Development of a new casting method to fabricate U–Zr alloy containing minor actinides

Kim, Jong Hwan; Song, Hang; Kim, Hyun Jae; Kim, Ki Hwan; Lee, Chan Bock; Fielding, Randall

doi:10.1007/s10967-013-2767-5

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…As the temperature increases even higher, the precipitation remains in the stable bcc band-like structure, but the separated uranium begins to change from bcc to a more liquid state. The band-like atomistic configuration shows the thermodynamic driving force to the lamellar [1][2][3] and acicular [5,7,8,46,47,50,51] microstructures observed experimentally and shown in Fig. 1a and Fig.…”

Section: Uranium-rich Compositionsmentioning

confidence: 70%

Atomistic mechanisms of morphological evolution and segregation in U-Zr alloys

et al. 2016

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In many metallic alloys, complex microstructures form as a consequence of local atomic ordering that depends on the processing path. This research uses an atomistic approach to study microstructural morphology and evolution in order to investigate how temperature and alloy concentration affect ordering. A semi-empirical Modified Embedded Atom Method (MEAM) is used in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to investigate the properties and equilibrium configurations of the high temperature body-centered-cubic (bcc) uranium-zirconium (U-Zr) alloys. Atomic simulations conducted with the MEAM potential show the thermodynamic driving force to the lamellar structure for the melt-casted U-rich alloys and the finely acicular microstructure of the water quenched U-rich alloys. In addition, when the U-rich U-Zr alloy is equilibrated at a lower temperature, the lamellar/acicular microstructures begin to spheroidize, as observed in experiments. In the intermediate Zr concentration region, the ordering seen is able to facilitate the structure to the partially ordered δ-UZr 2 phase seen experimentally. Lastly, the Zr-rich region is able to successfully show the thermodynamic driving force to the acicular, Widmanstätten, and martensitic needles type microstructures observed experimentally. These simulations are able to successfully replicate some of the fundamental thermo-physical and microstructural characteristics following fabrication and irradiation of the U-Zr metallic fuels.

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Section: Uranium-rich Compositionsmentioning

confidence: 70%

Atomistic mechanisms of morphological evolution and segregation in U-Zr alloys

et al. 2016

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“…The casting temperature is an important variable in the casting of fuel slug, and it is affected by many factors such as casting shape (length, diameter, volume, and area), batch size, mold filling time, cooling conditions, and casting method. In this study, casting temperature is referred to [18], where U-Zr-Mn alloy slug was fabricated soundly. Woolf et al [15] Woolf et al [15] Ward et al [13] Kubaschewski [14] Am Mn Ag Pr mold and is generally sound with no cracks or thin sections visible.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preparation of U–Zr–Mn, a Surrogate Alloy for Recycling Fast Reactor Fuel

Kim

Lee

2015

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering

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Metallic fuel slugs of U–10Zr–5Mn (wt%), a surrogate alloy for the U–TRU–Zr (TRU: a transuranic element) alloys proposed for sodium-cooled fast reactors, were prepared by injection casting in a laboratory-scale furnace, and their characteristics were evaluated. As-cast U–Zr–Mn fuel rods were generally sound, without cracks or thin sections. Approximately 68% of the original Mn content was lost under dynamic vacuum and the resulting slug was denser than those prepared under Ar pressure. The concentration of volatile Mn was as per the target composition along the entire length of the rods prepared under 400 and 600 Torr. Impurities, namely, oxygen, carbon, silicon, and nitrogen, totaled less than 2,000 ppm, satisfying fuel criteria.

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“…moreover, the generation of long-lived radioactive wastes and the loss of volatile species need to be minimized during the fuel fabrication process. innovative fuel concepts, therefore, are necessary to address the fabrication challenges of a conventional injection casting method pertaining to Tru elements while maintaining good performances of metallic fuel [9][10]. metallic particulate fuel is an innovative form for the injection casting of nuclear fuel slugs [11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archives of Metallurgy and Materials

Kim

Park

et al. 2021

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An alternative fabrication method for metallic fuel in gen-iV reactor was introduced with vibration packing of nuclear fuel particles to facilitate remote fabrication in a hot cell and reduce the generation of long-lived radioactive wastes. Vibration packing experiments on metallic particulate fuel using a surrogate 316L stainless steel powder were done to investigate the packing density and the uniformity of the simulated fuel according to the filling method and the vibration condition. metallic particulate fuel filled with a pre-mixed power over all particles had the highest packing fraction and the most uniform distribution among the filling methods. The vibration packing method showed that it could fabricate the metallic particulate fuel having uniform distribution of spherical fuel particles through the adjustment of the filling method of the metallic powder and the vibration condition of the metallic particulate fuel.

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Development of a new casting method to fabricate U–Zr alloy containing minor actinides

Cited by 12 publications

References 12 publications

Atomistic mechanisms of morphological evolution and segregation in U-Zr alloys

Atomistic mechanisms of morphological evolution and segregation in U-Zr alloys

Preparation of U–Zr–Mn, a Surrogate Alloy for Recycling Fast Reactor Fuel

Archives of Metallurgy and Materials

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