| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Phase Stability in Extreme Environments
|
| Presentation Title |
Phase Stability of δ-U-50wt%Zr under Thermal Treatment and Irradiation |
| Author(s) |
Amrita Sen, Tiankai Yao, Mukesh Bachhav, Janelle Wharry |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Amrita Sen |
| Abstract Scope |
The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of temperature and irradiation on phase stability in δ-U-50wt%Zr. U-Zr based metallic fuels are being considered for advanced nuclear reactor applications for their superior performance and recyclability compared with conventional oxide fuels. But due to sluggish diffusion of U in Zr, complex phase evolution under extreme conditions can occur. Amongst the stable room temperature phases of U-Zr, δ-UZr2 is the least well understood. In this study, we investigate the microstructural evolution of δ-U-50wt%Zr under thermal and irradiation treatments, using a combination of TEM and APT methods. High temperature thermal annealing on this material results in spinodal-like decomposition, whereas room temperature proton irradiation results in the formation of needle-like precipitates. These results suggest unique phase evolution of δ-U-50wt%Zr under extreme conditions that deviate from that predicted by the conventional thermodynamic U-Zr phase diagram and implications of such will be discussed. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Phase Transformations, Characterization |