Space fission reactor structural materials: Choices past, present, and future

Busby, Jeremy T.; Leonard, Keith J.

doi:10.1007/s11837-007-0049-9

Cited by 43 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…The interest in Nb-base alloys for these space applications originated in the early programs of the 1960s [1] and has continued on to the more recent Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) and Prometheus programs of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). [2] Despite a long history, the maturity of the database on Nb-base refractory metal alloys is limited. This is due in part to program cancellations and the lack of current commercial development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nb-Base FS-85 Alloy as a Candidate Structural Material for Space Reactor Applications: Effects of Thermal Aging

Leonard

Busby

Hoelzer

et al. 2009

Metall Mater Trans A

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The proposed uses of fission reactors for manned or deep space missions have typically relied on the potential use of refractory metal alloys as structural materials. Throughout the history of these programs, a leading candidate has been Nb-1Zr, due to its good fabrication and welding characteristics. However, the less-than-optimal creep resistance of this alloy has encouraged interest in the more complex FS-85 (Nb-28Ta-10W-1Zr) alloy. Despite this interest, only a relatively small database exists for the properties of FS-85. Database gaps include the potential microstructural instabilities that can lead to mechanical property degradation. In this work, changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties of FS-85 were investigated following 1100 hours of thermal aging at 1098, 1248, and 1398 K. The changes in electrical resistivity, hardness, and tensile properties between the as-annealed and aged materials are compared. Evaluation of the microstructural changes was performed through optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The development of intragranular and grain-boundary precipitation of Zr-rich compounds as a function of aging temperature was followed. Brittle tensile behavior was measured in the material aged at 1248 K, while ductile behavior occurred in samples aged above and below this temperature. The effect of temperature on the under-and overaging of the grain-boundary particles is believed to have contributed to the mechanical property behavior of the aged materials.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nb-Base FS-85 Alloy as a Candidate Structural Material for Space Reactor Applications: Effects of Thermal Aging

Leonard

Busby

Hoelzer

et al. 2009

Metall Mater Trans A

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“…The VNbTaTi RHEA has been proposed with excellent mechanical properties, with including superior strength at high temperatures and a strain at break of more than 50% at room temperature under compression tests [6,7] . However, the density of equiatomic VNbTaTi is still higher than most conventional superalloys [8] . In this work, to allow both lower density while maintaining high structural stability, the concentrations of Ta and Ti elements are reduced to form a (VNb)80(TiTa)20 alloy (termed as 8020 in the following text).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

A novel (VNb)80(TaTi)20 refractory high entropy alloy with excellent mechanical properties at the as-cast state

Wang,

Han,

wang

et al. 2023

Ninth International Conference on Mechanical Engineering, Materials, and Automation Technology (MMEAT 2023)

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Refractory high entropy alloys have excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures, while they are often restrained in engineering applications because of their poor ductility at room temperature as well as relatively high density. Equiatomic VNbTaTi alloy has exhibited outstanding combination of high-temperature strength and room temperature ductility, but its density 9.1 g/cm 3 is still higher than several traditional refractory alloys. In this work, we develop a novel (VNb)80(TaTi)20 alloy in the as-cast state exhibiting an ultimate tensile strength of 921 MPa, combined with desired fracture elongation of 28% and uniform elongation of 13.1% at room temperature. The density of this alloy is only 8.1 g/cm 3 , granting it superior specific strength at elevated temperatures, i.e., reaching 45 MPa• cm 3 /g at 1100 °C .

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“…Furthermore, taking advantage of their excellent performance in high temperature and radioactive environment [7,17], molybdenum and beryllium are selected as structure and reflector materials, respectively. These materials have been used previously in the SAFE400 and SFPS designs [3,6].…”

Section: Other Materials' Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subcritical space nuclear system without most movable control systems

Sanbing

2015

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology

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This paper describes the design and analysis of advanced space nuclear reactor (ASNR) whose design combines the advantages of radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) and space nuclear reactor (SNR). As opposed to current SNRs designs, ASNR is a subcritical system driven by 232 U-Be neutron source to generate thermal power continuously. Most movable control systems in the SNR design are removed. The detailed neutronic calculations by MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended), including k eff , flux, burnup, loss-ratio of neutron source and immersion reactivity, show that ASNR has higher criticality safety and more compact structure to bear the risk of immersion accident compared with the past SNRs, and the new system can provide more thermal power than RTG. Furthermore, the neutron source efficiency is optimized to improve the utilization of 232 U-Be neutron source with the improvement of criticality safety. Compared with the past designs of space nuclear power, ASNR could provide enough thermal power and avoid the occurrence of serious immersion accident in the case of total control system failure. ASNR has potential for future deep space missions.

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Space fission reactor structural materials: Choices past, present, and future

Cited by 43 publications

References 14 publications

Nb-Base FS-85 Alloy as a Candidate Structural Material for Space Reactor Applications: Effects of Thermal Aging

Nb-Base FS-85 Alloy as a Candidate Structural Material for Space Reactor Applications: Effects of Thermal Aging

A novel (VNb)80(TaTi)20 refractory high entropy alloy with excellent mechanical properties at the as-cast state

Subcritical space nuclear system without most movable control systems

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