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ABSTRACT
In this study, the oxidation of various accident tolerant fuel candidates produced under different conditions have been evaluated and compared relative to the reference standard – UO2. The candidates considered in this study were UN, U3Si2, U3Si5, and a composite material composed of UN–U3Si2. With the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method, it was possible to fabricate samples of UN with varying porosity, as well as a high-density composite of UN–U3Si2 (10%). Using thermogravimetry in air, the oxidation behaviors of each material and the various microstructures of UN were assessed. These results reveal that it is possible to fabricate UN to very high densities using the SPS method, such that its resistance to oxidation can be improved compared to U3Si5 and UO2, and compete favorably with the principal ATF candidates, U3Si2, which shows a particularly violent reaction under the conditions of this study, and the UN–U3Si2 (10%) composite.
Acknowledgements
The preceding work has been conducted within the framework of the ASGARD project under the European Atomic Energy Community’s 7th Framework Programme. The authors also wish to acknowledge the cooperation of the Materials and Environmental Chemistry Department at Stockholm University, as well as Westinghouse Electric Corporation for providing reference UO2 materials.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.