Research on rare-earth element reaction processes with fuel cladding materials in FBR

ABSTRACT

Reaction tests of diffusion couple of ferritic martensitic steel (PNC-FMS), a candidate for fast reactor fuel cladding, and the rare-earth element Ce by diffusion pairing have been performed for up to 600 h. The results indicated that the reaction process is diffusion-controlled. Chemical and microstructural analyses by SEM and TEM revealed that Ce₃(Fe, Cr)₂₉ was formed in the early stage of the reaction, which was subsequently converted into CeFe₂. The reaction phase changed depending on the presence of Cr in the base metal and increasing Ce concentration, indicating a multi-reaction process.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• FBR
• metal fuel
• FCCI
• cladding
• lanthanide elements

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by scientific grants from the Kansai Genshiryoku Kondankai, Osaka, Japan.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the scientific grants from the Kansai Genshiryoku Kondankai [H29].