Mechanical and thermal behaviour of U–Mo and U–Nb–Zr Alloys

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 2013-09, Vol.440 (1-3), p.304-309
• Main Authors: Lopes, Denise Adorno, Guisard Restivo, Thomaz Augusto, Padilha, Angelo Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Deformation; Density; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuel elements; Fuels; Heat transfer; Heat treatment; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear fuels; Preparation and processing of nuclear fuels; Stability; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Uranium base alloys
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.05.014

Nuclear fuels composed of uranium alloys in monolithic and dispersed forms are being considered for research and compact power reactors due to their density properties (greater than 15g-U/cm3) and fast heat transfer. U–Nb–Zr and U–Mo alloys are the most promising systems for plate fuel elements owing to their broad γ-phase stability field, which shows higher ductility and isotropic behaviour, allowing extensive fabrication capability. In the present work, γ-phase stabilized U–7.5Nb–2.5Zr and U–10Mo alloys were characterized by mechanical and thermal analyses for comparison of their behaviour under deformation and heat-treatment. The results demonstrate that the alloys have substantially different properties regarding deformation, kinetics phase transformation and recovery/recrystallization. The main results show that U–Nb–Zr is superior regarding fabrication capabilities although the γ-phase is less stable than U–Mo alloys.