1. Effect of Vapor Deposition on the Interdiffusion Behavior between the Metallic Fuel and Clad Material
- Author
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Chan Bock Lee, Byoung Oon Lee, Seung Hyun Jee, Young Soo Yoon, and Jun Hwan Kim
- Subjects
Cladding (metalworking) ,Materials science ,Nuclear fuel ,Diffusion barrier ,Metallurgy ,Alloy ,Metals and Alloys ,Analytical chemistry ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Chemical vapor deposition ,engineering.material ,Uranium ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,chemistry ,Modeling and Simulation ,Physical vapor deposition ,engineering ,Eutectic system - Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the performance of diffusion barriers in order to prevent fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) between the metallic fuels and the cladding materials, a potential hazard for nuclear fuel in sodium-cooled fast reactors. In order to prevent FCCI, Zr or V metal is deposited on the ferriticmartensitic stainless steel surface by physical vapor deposition with a thickness up to 5μm. The diffusion couple tests using uranium alloy (U-10Zr) and a rare earth metal such as Ce-La alloy and Nd were performed at temperatures between 660~800°C. Microstructural analysis using SEM was carried out over the coupled specimen. The results show that significant interdiffusion and an associated eutectic reaction ocurred in the specimen without a diffusion barrier. However, with the exception of the local dissolution of the Zr layer in the Ce-La alloy, the specimens deposited with Zr and V exhibited superior eutectic resistance to the uranium alloy and rare earth metal. (Received January 17, 2011)
- Published
- 2011