SEM Study of the Chemical Diffusion and Compatibility of D9 Clad with UO{sub}2 Fuel

摘要

Mixed oxide of uranium and plutonium (MOX) is the fuel chosen for the prototype fast-breeder reactor (PFBR). In the oxide fuel system, the clad and the fuel come in contact after about 40,000 MW days per tonne burn-up. Fairly extensive chemical interactions between oxide fuel and clad, in particular D9, have been reported at high burn-ups which have given rise to premature clad breach. Chemical compatibility of the selected MOX fuel and D9 is an important high burn-up issues in sodium cooled fast reactors. Present studies on chemical diffusion and compatibility of UO{sub}2 and alloy D9 also supports this. The results are discussed in detail in this paper.