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Article
Uranium Migration in Spark Plasma Sintered W/UO2 CERMETS
Journal of Nuclear Materials
  • Dennis S. Tucker, Marshall Space Flight Center
  • Yaqiao Wu, Boise State University
  • Jatuporn Burns, Boise State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2018
Abstract

W/UO2 CERMET samples were sintered in a Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) furnace at various temperature under vacuum and pressure. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) was performed on the samples to determine interface structures and uranium diffusion from the UO2 particles into the tungsten matrix. Local Electrode Atom Probe (LEAP) was also performed to determine stoichiometry of the UO2 particles. It was seen that uranium diffused approximately 10–15 nm into the tungsten matrix. This is explained in terms of production of oxygen vacancies and Fick's law of diffusion.

Citation Information
Tucker, Dennis S.; Wu, Yaqiao; and Burns, Jatuporn. (2018). "Uranium Migration in Spark Plasma Sintered W/UO2 Cermets". Journal of Nuclear Materials, 500, 141-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.12.029