| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Ceramic Materials for Nuclear Energy Research and Applications
|
| Presentation Title |
Susceptibility of Nuclear Fuel Ceramics to Oxidation and Hydridization during Off Normal Events |
| Author(s) |
Elizabeth S. Sooby, Adrian Gonzales, Geronimo Robles, Joshua T White |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Elizabeth S. Sooby |
| Abstract Scope |
Ceramic and functional ceramic nuclear fuel compounds, namely uranium mononitride (UN), uranium silicide (U3Si2), uranium monocarbide, and uranium diboride (UB2), have been recently assessed as candidate fuels for several reactor designs. For water-cooled reactors, susceptibility to corrosion during a cladding breach is of peak concern, and to that effect, U3Si2 has shown rapid pulverization in both flowing steam and pressurized water at temperatures as low as 350°C. However, UN displays a more graduate oxidation kinetic with onsets of reaction exceeding 600°C for high-purity, high-density samples exposed to steam. Furthermore, hydrogen exposure and potential hydrogen absorption can facilitate fuel degradation. Presented will be the latest experimental work assessing the thermochemical behavior and observed mechanisms for ceramic fuel failure of high uranium density compounds exposed to both oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Ceramics, Nuclear Materials, Environmental Effects |