Irradiation behavior of ground and atomized U-7Mo dispersion fuels irradiated to low burnup

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 420; p. 113019
• Main Authors: Smith, Charlyne, Saoudi, Mouna, Keiser, Dennis, Corbett, Stavros
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-04-2024
• Subjects: Atomized powder; Grain size; Ground powder; Interaction layer; Porosity; U-7Mo fuel; Grain size; Ground powder; U-7Mo fuel; Porosity; Interaction layer; Atomized powder
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2024.113019

•Mg replacement for Al-Si matrices effectively restrains FMI layer formation.•Differences in FGP morpohology between ground and atomized fuels may result from varying starting defect densities.•Accelerated grain refinement in ground fuel suggests potential for improved irradiation performance.•FGP growth in atomized fuel is accelerated compared to its ground fuel counterpart.
This study investigates the irradiation behavior of U-7Mo fuels, examining matrix effects, fission gas pore (FGP) morphology, and uranium carbide (UC) inclusions. Comparisons between ground and atomized U-7Mo fuels reveal distinct behaviors under irradiation conditions. Both fuel types interact with pure Al matrices, with Si additives mitigating interaction layer growth during neutron irradiation. Fission gas behavior differs in pure Al and Al-Si matrices, while a Mg matrix replacement suppresses interaction layers. Unique FGP morphologies emerge, attributed to varying initial defect densities, potentially impacting FGP interconnection in ground fuel. Ground fuel exhibits accelerated grain refinement due to elevated defect density. UC inclusions in ground fuel possess smaller and circular morphologies compared to atomized fuel, with limited porosity development at UC boundaries. Overall, this investigation advances the comprehension of U-7Mo fuel irradiation behavior, with implications for fuel design and performance evaluation, necessitating further research to untangle complex relationships governing these phenomena.