| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Microstructural, Mechanical, and Chemical Behavior of Solid Nuclear Fuel and Fuel-Cladding Interface II
|
| Presentation Title |
Fission Product Migration and Speciation in Uranium Mononitride SIMFUEL |
| Author(s) |
Patrick Warren, Mira Khair, Elizabeth Sooby |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Patrick Warren |
| Abstract Scope |
The objective of this study is to synthesize uranium mononitride (UN) with fission products (FPs) in concentrations representative of those expected at high burnup and to evaluate the migration and speciation of FPs within the UN matrix. UN is being investigated as an accident tolerant fuel candidate because of the high fissile atom density, high melting temperature, enhanced thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity. However, FP migration and speciation within the UN matrix have not been thoroughly evaluated despite the potential impact this behavior will have on the thermal and mechanical performance. UN SIMFUEL containing FPs including Nd, Mo, Ru, Pd, and Ce have been synthesized by sintering and heat treated in a tube furnace to simulate the high temperatures of the reactor core. FP speciation including the formation of FP nitrides and intermetallic phases have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Phase Transformations, Characterization |