Effect of High Si Content on U3Si2 Fuel Microstructure

Jhonathan Rosales; Isabella J. van Rooyen; Subhashish Meher; Rita Hoggan; Clemente Parga; Jason Harp

doi:10.1007/s11837-017-2654-6

Effect of High Si Content on U₃Si₂ Fuel Microstructure

Jhonathan Rosales
, Isabella J. van Rooyen
, Subhashish Meher
, Rita Hoggan
, Clemente Parga
, Jason Harp

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The development of U₃Si₂ as an accident-tolerant nuclear fuel has gained research interest because of its promising high uranium density and improved thermal properties. In the present study, three samples of U₃Si₂ fuel with varying silicon content have been fabricated by a conventional powder metallurgical route. Microstructural characterization via scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveals the presence of other stoichiometry of uranium silicide such as USi and UO₂ in both samples. The detailed phase analysis by x-ray diffraction shows the presence of secondary phases, such as USi, U₃Si, and UO₂. The samples with higher concentrations of silicon content of 7.5 wt.% display additional elemental Si. These samples also possess an increased amount of the USi phase as compared to that in the conventional sample with 7.3 wt.% silicon. The optimization of U₃Si₂ fuel performance through the understanding of the role of Si content on its microstructure has been discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	209-213
Number of pages	5
Journal	JOM
Volume	70
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-017-2654-6
State	Published - Feb 1 2018
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This work was sponsored by the US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, under US Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-05ID14517, as part of the Technology Transitions Technology Commercialization Fund. Transmission electron microscopy and focused ion beam work was carried out at the Center

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10.1007/s11837-017-2654-6

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title = "Effect of High Si Content on U3Si2 Fuel Microstructure",

abstract = "The development of U3Si2 as an accident-tolerant nuclear fuel has gained research interest because of its promising high uranium density and improved thermal properties. In the present study, three samples of U3Si2 fuel with varying silicon content have been fabricated by a conventional powder metallurgical route. Microstructural characterization via scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveals the presence of other stoichiometry of uranium silicide such as USi and UO2 in both samples. The detailed phase analysis by x-ray diffraction shows the presence of secondary phases, such as USi, U3Si, and UO2. The samples with higher concentrations of silicon content of 7.5 wt.\% display additional elemental Si. These samples also possess an increased amount of the USi phase as compared to that in the conventional sample with 7.3 wt.\% silicon. The optimization of U3Si2 fuel performance through the understanding of the role of Si content on its microstructure has been discussed.",

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AU - Rosales, Jhonathan

AU - van Rooyen, Isabella J.

AU - Meher, Subhashish

AU - Hoggan, Rita

AU - Parga, Clemente

AU - Harp, Jason

PY - 2018/2/1

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AB - The development of U3Si2 as an accident-tolerant nuclear fuel has gained research interest because of its promising high uranium density and improved thermal properties. In the present study, three samples of U3Si2 fuel with varying silicon content have been fabricated by a conventional powder metallurgical route. Microstructural characterization via scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveals the presence of other stoichiometry of uranium silicide such as USi and UO2 in both samples. The detailed phase analysis by x-ray diffraction shows the presence of secondary phases, such as USi, U3Si, and UO2. The samples with higher concentrations of silicon content of 7.5 wt.% display additional elemental Si. These samples also possess an increased amount of the USi phase as compared to that in the conventional sample with 7.3 wt.% silicon. The optimization of U3Si2 fuel performance through the understanding of the role of Si content on its microstructure has been discussed.

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Effect of High Si Content on U₃Si₂ Fuel Microstructure

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