High-temperature interaction between zirconium and UO

Shirasu, Noriko; Suzuki, Akihiro*; Nagae, Yuji; Kurata, Masaki

Proceedings of International Topical Workshop on Fukushima Decommissioning Research (FDR 2019) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2019/05

High temperature interaction tests between UO and Zr were performed at around 2173 K, to make clear the UO/ -Zr(O) interaction and the mechanism of degradation, for developing the improved models for advanced severe accident analysis codes. A Zr plate was inserted in a UO crucible, and heat treated at 2173 K in stream of Ar. After the heat-treatment, the samples were subjected to surface microanalysis. The middle region of Zr sample shows streak-like structures which are extended towered the top. It is confirmed that the streak-like structures were mainly consist of U from the EDX results, and the structures revealed that the U-rich phase was liquid during the heat-treatment. It seems that the U-rich liquid grew selectively toward the area where the oxygen concentration was low.