Development of Basket Material for Transportable Storage Cask for Spent Nuclear Fuel

摘要

Transportable storage casks for spent nuclear fuel are required due to the lack of storage space at light water power reactor plants. A promising cask basket material is aluminum alloy, which provides subcriticality, light weight, and good thermal conductivity. We developed an aluminum-base metal matrix composite containing a high boron content based on boron dispersion in the matrix by powder metallurgy. Compared to conventional basket materials, this material is tough and stable at high temperature over long periods. This material will be used for MSF69B transportable storage casks.