As-cast microstructures in U-Pu-Zr alloy fuel pins with 5-8 wt.% minor actinides and 0-1.5 wt% rare-earth elements

作者：Janney Dawn E^*; Kennedy J Rory

来源：Materials Characterization, 2010, 61(11): 1194-1202.

DOI：10.1016/j.matchar.2010.07.012

• Actinide alloys
• Nuclear fuels
• Microstructure
• Scanning electron microscopy

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is investigating U-Pu-Zr alloys with low concentrations of minor actinides (Np and Am) and rare earth elements (La Ce Pr, and Nd) as possible nuclear fuels to be used to transmute minor actinides Alloys with compositions 60U-20Pu-3Am-2Np-15Zr 42U-30Pu-5Am-3Np-20Zr 59U-20Pu-3Am-2Np-1RE-15Zr, 58 5U-20Pu-3Am-2Np-1 5RE-15Zr 41U-30Pu-5Am-3Np-1RE-20Zr and 40 5U-30Pu-5Am-3Np-1 5RE-20zr (where numbers represent weight percents of each element and RE is a rare earth alloy consisting of 6% La 16% Pr 25% Ce and 53% Nd by weight) were arc melted and vacuum cast as fuel pins approximately 4 mm in diameter The as cast pins were sectioned, polished and examined by scanning electron microscopy Each alloy contains high Zr inclusions surrounded by a high actinide matrix Alloys with rare earth elements also contain inclusions that are high in these elements Within the matrix, concentrations of U and Zr vary inversely while concentrations of Np and Pu appear approxi

• 出版日期2010-11