Metallic Fuels Handbook

Microstructure study of U–35 wt.% Zr alloy after quick annealing at 650 °C

“…2. However, recent investigations using TEM showed that the nucleation of d phase is actually fast [2]. Without TEM analysis, this study suggests a nonsluggish reaction at 650°C in reaching the equilibrium composition of the a-U phase.…”

“…Thus, it is reasonable to believe that more ordered d phase formed through atomic diffusion compared to Irukuvarghula's study [11]. Recent studies using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) also evidenced the formation of d phase in a more rapid fashion than traditionally believed [2]. shows that the dendrites are precipitate free while high-density a-U precipitate clusters between dendrite branches.…”

“…Historically, U-Zr alloy fuels were used in several types of test and research reactors including the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II. The research interests in the U-Zr binary alloy also come from the candidacy of U-Pu-Zr ternary alloys for future fast spectrum reactors [2,3,4]. Within the scope of U-Zr binary system whose equilibrium phase diagram is presented in Fig.…”