High- and low-Am RE inclusion phases in a U-Np-Pu-Am-Zr alloy

The composition of the only low-Am RE inclusion studied in detail is ∼35-40 at.% O, 40-45% Nd, 1-2% Zr, 4-5% La, 9-10% Ce, and 6-7% Pr. This inclusion is an oxide with a crystal structure similar to the room-temperature structure of Nd2O3. Microstructural features suggest that oxidation occurred during casting, and that early crystallization of high-temperature oxides led to formation of two distinct RE phases.