| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7963437 | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2018 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
Recent interest in U3Si2 as an advanced light water reactor fuel has driven assessment of numerous properties, but characterization of its response to H2O environments is absent from the literature. The behavior of U3Si2 in H2O containing atmospheres is investigated and presented in a two-part series of articles aimed to understand the degradation mechanism of U3Si2 in H2O. Reported here are thermogravimetric data for U3Si2 exposed to flowing steam at 250-470â¯Â°C. Additionally the response of U3Si2 to flowing Ar-6% H2 from 350 to 400â¯Â°C is presented. Microstructural degradation is observed following hours of exposure at 350â¯Â°C in steam. U3Si2 undergoes pulverization on the timescale of minutes when temperatures are increased above 400â¯Â°C. This mechanism is accelerated in flowing Ar-H2 at the same temperatures.
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Authors
E. Sooby Wood, J.T. White, C.J. Grote, A.T. Nelson,