Radiation Resistance of the U(Al, Si)(3) Alloy: Ion-Induced Disordering

0488754 - ÚJF 2019 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Meshi, L. - Yaniv, G. - Horák, Pavel - Vacík, Jiří - Mykytenko, N. - Rafailov, G. - Dahan, I. - Fuks, D. - Kiv, A.
Radiation Resistance of the U(Al, Si)(3) Alloy: Ion-Induced Disordering.
Materials. Roč. 11, č. 2 (2018), č. článku 228. E-ISSN 1996-1944
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GBP108/12/G108
Institutional support: RVO:61389005
Keywords : U-Al-Si * ion-irradiation * transmission electron microscopy * structural defects * disordering
OECD category: Composites (including laminates, reinforced plastics, cermets, combined natural and synthetic fibre fabrics
Impact factor: 2.972, year: 2018

During the exploitation of nuclear reactors, various U-Al based ternary intermetallides are formed in the fuel-cladding interaction layer. Structure and physical properties of these intermetallides determine the radiation resistance of cladding and, ultimately, the reliability and lifetime of the nuclear reactor. In current research, U(Al, Si)(3) composition was studied as a potential constituent of an interaction layer. Phase content of the alloy of an interest was ordered U(Al, Si)(3), structure of which was reported earlier, and pure Al (constituting less than 20 vol % of the alloy). This alloy was investigated prior and after the irradiation performed by Ar ions at 30 keV. The irradiation was performed on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM, JEOL, Japan) samples, characterized before and after the irradiation process. Irradiation induced disorder accompanied by stress relief. Furthermore, it was found that there is a dose threshold for disordering of the crystalline matter in the irradiated region. Irradiation at doses equal or higher than this threshold resulted in almost solely disordered phase. Using the program Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM), the parameters of penetration of Ar ions into the irradiated samples were estimated. Based on these estimations, the dose threshold for ion-induced disordering of the studied material was assessed.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0283291