Nano-mechanical property assessment of a neutron-irradiated HT-9 steel cladding and a fuel-cladding chemical interaction region of a uranium–10 wt% zirconium nuclear fuel

Jonova Thomas, Fei Teng, Daniel Murray, Maria A. Okuniewski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nano-indentation was used in conjunction with electron microscopy to characterize the microstructure and mechanical properties of a neutron-irradiated HT-9 cladding adjoined to uranium–10 wt% zirconium, a fast reactor fuel. Electron microscopy revealed that the neutron-irradiated cladding can be classified into three localities: HT-9 edge, HT-9 + fission products, and the fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) region. The three localities possessed differing nano-hardness values and consequently resulted in differing calculated yield stresses. Following irradiation, the nano-hardness and yield stresses increased in the HT-9 edge. The HT-9 + fission products locality also increased in nano-hardness and yield stresses with average values similar to the HT-9 edge, but with larger standard deviations due to the diffusion of fission products along grain boundaries. The FCCI locality had the largest and most variable nano-hardness and yield stresses in comparison to the other regions. A yield stress comparison of the HT-9 edge and the literature of neutron-irradiated HT-9 is discussed. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1048-1053
Number of pages6
JournalMRS Advances
Volume6
Issue number47-48
Early online dateDec 8 2021
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 8 2021

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