Fabrication and microstructural analysis of UN-U3Si2 composites for accident tolerant fuel applications

Kyle D. Johnson; Alicia M. Raftery; Denise Adorno Lopes; Janne Wallenius

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.05.004

Fabrication and microstructural analysis of UN-U₃Si₂ composites for accident tolerant fuel applications

Kyle D. Johnson, Alicia M. Raftery, Denise Adorno Lopes, Janne Wallenius

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

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, U₃Si₂ was synthesized via the use of arc-melting and mixed with UN powders, which together were sintered using the SPS method. The study revealed a number of interesting conclusions regarding the stability of the system - namely the formation of a probable but as yet unidentified ternary phase coupled with the reduction of the stoichiometry in the nitride phase - as well as some insights into the mechanics of the sintering process itself. By milling the silicide powders and reducing its particle size ratio compared to UN, it was possible to form a high density UN-U₃Si₂ composite, with desirable microstructural characteristics for accident tolerant fuel applications.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	18-23
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Nuclear Materials
Volume	477
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.05.004
State	Published - Aug 15 2016
Externally published	Yes

Funding

The preceding work has been conducted within the framework of the ASGARD project under the European Atomic Energy Community’s 7th Framework Programme. The author also wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of Dr. Mohsin Saleemi and the Materials and Environmental Chemistry Department at Stockholm University as well as Oskar Karlsson and KIMAB for providing the use of the EBSD technique.

Keywords

Accident tolerant fuel
Nuclear fuel
SPS
U-N-Si system
Uranium nitride
Uranium silicide

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.05.004

Cite this

@article{5cb5424a62464f0493c25a8cd5def054,

title = "Fabrication and microstructural analysis of UN-U3Si2 composites for accident tolerant fuel applications",

abstract = "In this study, U3Si2 was synthesized via the use of arc-melting and mixed with UN powders, which together were sintered using the SPS method. The study revealed a number of interesting conclusions regarding the stability of the system - namely the formation of a probable but as yet unidentified ternary phase coupled with the reduction of the stoichiometry in the nitride phase - as well as some insights into the mechanics of the sintering process itself. By milling the silicide powders and reducing its particle size ratio compared to UN, it was possible to form a high density UN-U3Si2 composite, with desirable microstructural characteristics for accident tolerant fuel applications.",

keywords = "Accident tolerant fuel, Nuclear fuel, SPS, U-N-Si system, Uranium nitride, Uranium silicide",

author = "Johnson, {Kyle D.} and Raftery, {Alicia M.} and Lopes, {Denise Adorno} and Janne Wallenius",

year = "2016",

month = aug,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.05.004",

language = "English",

volume = "477",

pages = "18--23",

journal = "Journal of Nuclear Materials",

issn = "0022-3115",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fabrication and microstructural analysis of UN-U3Si2 composites for accident tolerant fuel applications

AU - Johnson, Kyle D.

AU - Raftery, Alicia M.

AU - Lopes, Denise Adorno

AU - Wallenius, Janne

PY - 2016/8/15

Y1 - 2016/8/15

N2 - In this study, U3Si2 was synthesized via the use of arc-melting and mixed with UN powders, which together were sintered using the SPS method. The study revealed a number of interesting conclusions regarding the stability of the system - namely the formation of a probable but as yet unidentified ternary phase coupled with the reduction of the stoichiometry in the nitride phase - as well as some insights into the mechanics of the sintering process itself. By milling the silicide powders and reducing its particle size ratio compared to UN, it was possible to form a high density UN-U3Si2 composite, with desirable microstructural characteristics for accident tolerant fuel applications.

AB - In this study, U3Si2 was synthesized via the use of arc-melting and mixed with UN powders, which together were sintered using the SPS method. The study revealed a number of interesting conclusions regarding the stability of the system - namely the formation of a probable but as yet unidentified ternary phase coupled with the reduction of the stoichiometry in the nitride phase - as well as some insights into the mechanics of the sintering process itself. By milling the silicide powders and reducing its particle size ratio compared to UN, it was possible to form a high density UN-U3Si2 composite, with desirable microstructural characteristics for accident tolerant fuel applications.

KW - Accident tolerant fuel

KW - Nuclear fuel

KW - SPS

KW - U-N-Si system

KW - Uranium nitride

KW - Uranium silicide

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84966271209&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.05.004

DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.05.004

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84966271209

SN - 0022-3115

VL - 477

SP - 18

EP - 23

JO - Journal of Nuclear Materials

JF - Journal of Nuclear Materials

ER -