| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Elucidating Microstructural Evolution Under Extreme Environments
|
| Presentation Title |
Oxidation Kinetics for UB<sub>2</sub> in Air Atmospheres |
| Author(s) |
Natasha Engel, Jennifer H. Stansby, Elizabeth S. Sooby |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Natasha Engel |
| Abstract Scope |
Uranium diboride (UB<sub>2</sub>) has been identified as a promising fuel candidate due to its high thermal conductivity, high uranium density, and better oxidative resistance compared to other high uranium density fuels. UB<sub>2</sub> has been studied as an additive to other candidate accident-tolerant fuels, such as uranium nitride and uranium silicide, and has been shown to improve the oxidative characteristics. Our study focuses on the oxidation of UB<sub>2</sub>, synthesized with the arc melt method, in synthetic air using thermogravimetric analysis within the temperature range of 200-500°C. After oxidation, the samples are analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to investigate the chemical and phase composition effects of oxidation on the sample. Our results are compared with previous samples fabricated using the carbo/borothermic reduction method. Additionally, the findings from this study are compared to the oxidation of UB<sub>2</sub> in different oxidizing environments (e.g. steam). |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, High-Temperature Materials, Characterization |