Oxidation of accident tolerant fuel candidates

• In this study, the oxidation of various accident tolerant fuel candidates produced under different conditions have been evaluated and compared relative to the reference standard–UO2. The candidates considered in this study were UN, U3Si2, U3Si5, and a composite material composed of UN–U3Si2. With the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method, it was possible to fabricate samples of UN with varying porosity, as well as a high-density composite of UN–U3Si2 (10%). Using thermogravimetry in air, the oxidation behaviors of each material and the various microstructures of UN were assessed. These results reveal that it is possible to fabricate UN to very high densities using the SPS method, such that its resistance to oxidation can be improved compared to U3Si5 and UO2, and compete favorably with the principal ATF candidates, U3Si2, which shows a particularly violent reaction under the conditions of this study, and the UN–U3Si2 (10%) composite.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

accident tolerant fuel

Nuclear fuel

oxidation

SPS sintering

uranium nitride

uranium nitride silicide composite

uranium silicide

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)