Transient interactions of boron carbide with molten uranium oxideShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: Nuclear Materials and Energy, E-ISSN 2352-1791, Vol. 29, article id 101078Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations have shown that, at the elevated temperatures anticipated during se-vere accidents, uranium oxide-boron carbide interactions are likely to result in significant boron volatilization and the formation of uranium borides. This interaction is further investigated through transient experiments whereby boron carbide pellets are submerged in uranium dioxide melts held at elevated temperatures beneath inert atmospheres. X-ray diffraction and electron-microscopy analyses revealed the aerosols generated by the interaction to be rich in boron sesquioxide (B2O3) and uranium oxide. The solidified melt ingots recovered post-test exhibited highly heterogeneous chemistry with some samples richer in UO2 and others richer in U3O8. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations indicate that this could be explained by heterogeneity in redox envi-ronment. The second, larger-scale, interaction, with an increased boron inventory, indicated uranium oxide -boron carbide reaction formed either uranium boride or uranium borocarbide.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV , 2021. Vol. 29, article id 101078
Keywords [en]
Severe Accident, Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR), Uranium dioxide, Boron carbide, Molten pool, Aerosol release
National Category
Metallurgy and Metallic Materials
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-304764DOI: 10.1016/j.nme.2021.101078ISI: 000711373000003Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85123033700OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-304764DiVA, id: diva2:1610976
Note
QC 20211112
2021-11-122021-11-122022-06-25Bibliographically approved