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Kondo, Masatoshi*; Kitamura, Yoshiki*; Kawarai, Atsushi*; Saito, Shigeru; Obayashi, Hironari
Corrosion Science, 262, p.113646_1 - 113646_14, 2026/04
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)The corrosion resistance of FeCrAl alloy APMT (Fe-21Cr-5Al-3Mo) in flowing lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) was investigated by corrosion tests performed at 723 K using a non-isothermal forced convection loop. The oxygen concentration in flowing LBE was controlled at 1
10
wt%. No severe corrosion or erosion was detected on the specimens exposed to flowing LBE for 2000 h and 4000 h. Multiple oxide layers consisting of Fe-rich, Cr-rich and Al-rich sub-layers were formed in situ on the surface of APMT during the corrosion tests, which effectively suppressed corrosion and erosion. The oxide layers were intentionally removed by gentle abrasion prior to re-immersion and the specimens were then re-immersed in flowing LBE for an additional 2000 h. The oxide layers were spontaneously re-formed in situ on the abraded surface. This behavior indicates a self-healing capability. The results of micro-scratch tests indicated that the in-situ formed multiple oxide layers exhibited high adhesion strength in the shear direction after the 2000 h corrosion test.
Li, F.; Narukawa, Takafumi; Udagawa, Yutaka
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 61(8), p.1036 - 1047, 2024/08
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.00(Nuclear Science & Technology)Ukai, Shigeharu; Hirade, Tetsuya; Okubo, Nariaki
Materials Characterization, 211, p.113813_1 - 113813_9, 2024/05
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：56.81(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) was performed to characterize the interface nanostructure between the oxide particles and the ferritic matrix for two types of the oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloys. The spectra were precisely decomposed with two trappings. For the shorter annihilation lifetime (179-194 ps), based on the advanced theoretical work by Kuramoto, it could be ascribed to positron trapping at vacancies and divacancies localized under the misfit dislocations. The longer annihilation lifetime (301-323 ps) could be Ar-filled gas bubbles precipitated at the oxide particle/matrix interfaces. The estimated number density of Ar-filled gas bubbles is the same order of the oxide particle number density measured by HRTEM.
Sakamoto, Kan*; Sakaguchi, Chisato*; Miura, Yusuke*; Yokoyama, Hironori*; Matsunaga, Junji*; Kasahara, Hideyuki*; Miyata, Hajime*; Ioka, Ikuo; Yamashita, Shinichiro; Osaka, Masahiko
Proceedings of 2023 Water Reactor Fuel Performance Meeting (WRFPM 2023), p.20 - 28, 2024/00
An oxide-dispersion-strengthened FeCrAl (FeCrAl-ODS) has been continuously developed in Japan as a promising candidate alloy for the accident tolerant fuel cladding of BWRs (boiling water reactors). This paper will introduce the progress in practical development of accident tolerant FeCrAl-ODS fuel claddings for BWRs in the program fully or partially supported and organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan. The experimental studies have been conducted to obtain and accumulate key material properties of FeCrAl-ODS fuel claddings to support the evaluations in the analytical studies. For the evaluation at normal operation condition, fatigue test of unirradiated fuel cladding and tensile test of irradiated sheet specimen were conducted. In the fatigue test, a tensile-compressive bending strain was loaded on the C-shaped specimens by cyclic movement of a push-pull rod. Test temperature was 623 K, frequency was 1 Hz, and strain amplitude were 0.27, 0.34 and 0.55 %. The results of fatigue tests demonstrated that cycles to failure of the FeCrAl-ODS cladding were higher than that of the O'Donnell and Langer fatigue curve of Zr-based alloy. The tensile test was conducted in a hot cell using the SS-J2 type specimens at ambient temperature, 573 K and 623 K at a strain rate of 10-3 s-1. The specimens were irradiated up to 7.8 and 13 dpa at 573 K in the High Flux Isotope Reactor at ORNL. The irradiation hardening and ductility loss obtained at 7.8 and 13 dpa were comparable to those at 3.9 dpa.
Narukawa, Takafumi; Kondo, Keietsu; Fujimura, Yuki; Kakiuchi, Kazuo; Udagawa, Yutaka; Nemoto, Yoshiyuki
Journal of Nuclear Materials, 587, p.154736_1 - 154736_8, 2023/12
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：64.60(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)Ukai, Shigeharu; Sakamoto, Kan*; Otsuka, Satoshi; Yamashita, Shinichiro; Kimura, Akihiko*
Journal of Nuclear Materials, 583, p.154508_1 - 154508_24, 2023/09
Times Cited Count：42 Percentile：95.41(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)Narukawa, Takafumi; Kondo, Keietsu; Fujimura, Yuki; Kakiuchi, Kazuo; Udagawa, Yutaka; Nemoto, Yoshiyuki
Journal of Nuclear Materials, 582, p.154467_1 - 154467_12, 2023/08
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：64.60(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)Matsuda, Makoto
JAEA-Conf 2022-002, p.103 - 110, 2023/03
no abstracts in English
Matsushita, Kentaro; Ezure, Toshiki; Imai, Yasutomo*; Fujisaki, Tatsuya*; Tanaka, Masaaki
Proceedings of 29th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 29) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2022/08
Development of evaluation method for cover gas entrainment (GE) by vortices generated at free surface in upper plenum of sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) is required. GE evaluation tool, named StreamViewer, based on method using numerical results of three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics analysis for loop-type SFRs has been developed. In this study, modification of evaluation method of StreamViewer to rationalize conservativeness in evaluation results was examined by identifying vortex center lines and calculating three-dimensional distribution of pressure decrease along vortex center lines. The applicability of modified method was checked using water experimental result in rectangular open channel where unsteady vortices are generated. As the result, it was indicated that evaluation results on gas core depth which were excessive in current method were improved in modified method, and it is confirmed that modified method may discriminate onset of GE with appropriate criteria.
Sakamoto, Kan*; Miura, Yusuke*; Ukai, Shigeharu; Ono, Naoko*; Kimura, Akihiko*; Yamaji, Akifumi*; Kusagaya, Kazuyuki*; Takano, Sho*; Kondo, Takao*; Ikegawa, Tomohiko*; et al.
Journal of Nuclear Materials, 557, p.153276_1 - 153276_11, 2021/12
Times Cited Count：70 Percentile：99.22(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)A FeCrAl-oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloy is a promising candidate alloy for the accident tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding of light water reactors (LWRs) and being developed in Japan recently. This paper will introduce the progress of development of accident tolerant FeCrAl-ODS fuel claddings for boiling water reactors (BWRs) in Japan. Both the experimental and the analytical studies have been performed to evaluate the influence of implementation of the FeCrAl-ODS fuel claddings to the current BWRs. The experimental studies have been conducted to obtain and accumulate key material properties of FeCrAl-ODS fuel claddings by using bar, sheet and tube-shaped materials to support the evaluations in the analytical studies. At the end of paper, the challenges and prospects found in the program are highlighted to enhance international collaborations to accelerate the development of FeCrAl-ODS fuel cladding.
Yano, Yasuhide; Tanno, Takashi; Otsuka, Satoshi; Kaito, Takeji; Ukai, Shigeharu*
Materials Transactions, 62(8), p.1239 - 1246, 2021/08
Times Cited Count：12 Percentile：49.28(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)The FeCrAl-ODS alloy claddings were manufactured and Vickers hardness, ring tensile tests and TEM observations of these claddings were performed to investigate the effects of thermal aging at 450 
C for 5,000 and 15,000 h. The age-hardening of all FeCrAl-ODS alloy cladding was found. In addition, the significant increase in tensile strength was accompanied by much larger loss of ductility. It was suggested that this age-hardening behavior was attributed to the (Ti, Al)-enriched phase (
' phase) and the 
' phase precipitates (content of Al is 
7 wt%). In comparison with FeCrAl-ODS alloys with almost same chemical compositions, there was significant age-hardening in both alloys. However, the extrusion bar with no-recrystallized structures was keeping good ductility. It was suggested that this different behavior of reduction ductility was attributed to the effects of grain boundaries, dislocation densities and specimen preparation direction.
Ukai, Shigeharu*; Yano, Yasuhide; Inoue, Toshihiko; Sowa, Takashi*
Materials Science & Engineering A, 812, p.141076_1 - 141076_11, 2021/04
Times Cited Count：27 Percentile：76.97(Nanoscience & Nanotechnology)FeCrAl oxide dispersion strengthened alloys are promising materials for accident tolerant fuels for light water reactors (LWRs). In these alloys, Al and Cr are key elements with important synergistic effects: enhancement of the formation of oxidation-resistant Al
O
phase by Cr addition and suppression of the formation of the embrittling Cr-rich ' phase by Al addition. The solid-solution strengthening resulting from Al and Cr co-addition was investigated in this study. The solid-solution strengthening resulting from Al and Cr co-addition was investigated in this study. The Al and Cr contents were systematically varied from 9-16 at.% and 10-17 at.%, respectively, and tensile tests were conducted at 298 K, 573 K and 973 K in the as-annealed condition. The solid solution strengthening increased linearly, 20 MPa per 1 at.% Al and 5 MPa per 1 at.% Cr, at the typical LWR operational temperature of 573 K. The conventional Fleischer-Friedel and Labusch theories cannot explain this level of solid-solution strengthening. It was shown that Suzuki's double kink theory for screw dislocations reasonably predicts the solid solution strengthening by Al and Cr as well as the inverse dependency on the absolute temperature and linear dependency on the Al and Cr content.
Yamaji, Akifumi*; Susuki, Naomichi*; Kaji, Yoshiyuki
IAEA-TECDOC-1921, p.199 - 209, 2020/07
The thermo-physical models and irradiation behavior of FeCrAl as defined by the benchmark organizer have been implemented to FEMAXI-7. Analyses were carried out firstly for the specified normal operation condition. Then, some sensitivity analyses were carried out with different assumptions and model parameters. Under the normal operating condition, the predicted FeCrAl cladded fuel performance was similar to that of Zry cladded fuel with notable, but not major difference regarding late gap closure. Under the simulated LOCA conditions, the burst pressure could be evaluated. The predicted cladding creep strain at burst was mainly attributed to creep strain with negligible plastic strain. Overall, FEMAXI-7 analyses have demonstrated excellent robustness and flexibility in modeling FeCrAl-UO system under normal and LOCA conditions.
Aghamiri, S. M. S.*; Sowa, Takashi*; Ukai, Shigeharu*; Ono, Naoko*; Sakamoto, Kan*; Yamashita, Shinichiro
Materials Science & Engineering A, 771, p.138636_1 - 138636_12, 2020/01
Times Cited Count：50 Percentile：89.81(Nanoscience & Nanotechnology)Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) FeCrAl ferritic steels are being developed as potential accident tolerance fuel cladding materials for the light water reactors (LWRs) due to significant improvement in steam oxidation by alumina forming scale and good mechanical properties up to high temperatures. In this study, the microstructural characteristics and tensile properties of the two FeCrAl ODS cladding tubes with different extrusion temperatures of 1100C and 1150C were investigated during processing conditions. While the hot extruded sample showed micron sized elongated grains with strong -fiber in 110
texture, cold pilger rolling process change the microstructure to submicron/micron size grain structure along with texture evolution to both -fiber (110 texture) and 
-fiber ({111} texture) via crystalline rotations. Subsequently, final annealing resulted in evolution of microstructure to large grain recrystallized structure starting at recrystallization temperature of 
810-850C. Two distinct texture development happened in recrystallized cladding tubes, i.e., only large elongated grains of (110) 211 texture following extrusion temperature of 1100C; and two texture components of (110) 211 and {111} 112 following higher extrusion temperature of 1150C. The different texture development and retarding of recrystallization progress in 1100C-extruded cladding tubes were attributed to higher distribution of oxide particles.
Pastore, G.*; Gamble, K. A.*; Cherubini, M.*; Giovedi, C.*; Marino, A.*; Yamaji, Akifumi*; Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Van Uffelen, P.*; Veshchunov, M.*
Proceedings of International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference / Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (Global/Top Fuel 2019) (USB Flash Drive), p.1038 - 1047, 2019/09
Oxidation-resistant iron-chromium-aluminum (FeCrAl) steels have been proposed for application as cladding materials in light water reactor fuel rods with improved accident tolerance. Within the Coordinated Research Project ACTOF of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a fuel performance modeling benchmark for FeCrAl cladding behavior was conducted. During this effort, calculations were performed with various fuel performance codes for a set of fuel rod problems with FeCrAl steel as cladding material, and results were compared to each other.
Yamashita, Shinichiro; Ioka, Ikuo; Nemoto, Yoshiyuki; Kawanishi, Tomohiro; Kurata, Masaki; Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Fukahori, Tokio; Nozawa, Takashi*; Sato, Daiki*; Murakami, Nozomu*; et al.
Proceedings of International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference / Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (Global/Top Fuel 2019) (USB Flash Drive), p.206 - 216, 2019/09
After the nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, research and development (R&D) program for establishing technical basis of accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) started from 2015 in Japan. Since then, both experimental and analytical studies necessary for designing a new light water reactor (LWR) core with ATF candidate materials are being conducted within the Japanese ATF R&D Consortium for implementing ATF to the existing LWRs, accompanying with various technological developments required. Until now, we have accumulated experimental data of the candidate materials by out-of-pile tests, developed fuel evaluation codes to apply to the ATF candidate materials, and evaluated fuel behavior simulating operational and accidental conditions by the developed codes. In this paper, the R&D progresses of the ATF candidate materials considered in Japan are reviewed based on the information available such as proceedings of international conference and academic papers, providing an overview of ATF program in Japan.
Takahatake, Yoko; Ambai, Hiromu; Sano, Yuichi; Takeuchi, Masayuki; Koizumi, Kenji; Sakamoto, Kan*; Yamashita, Shinichiro
Proceedings of Annual Topical Meeting on Reactor Fuel Performance (TopFuel 2018) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2018/10
The corrosion behaviour of FeCrAl-ODS steels for the accident tolerant fuel cladding of LWRs were investigated in nitric acid solutions for the reprocessing process of spent fuels. The corrosion tests were carried out at 60C, 80C and the boiling point of the solutions, and the specimens were then analysed by XPS. The corrosion remarkably progressed at the boiling point, and the highest corrosion rate was 0.22 mm/y. In the oxide film, the atomic concentration of Fe was lower, than that in the base material, and those of Cr and Al were higher. The results show that the corrosion of FeCrAl-ODS steels in hot nitric acid solution is not severe because of the high corrosion resistance of the oxide film formed on the material; hence, the corrosion resistance of the new cladding materials in the dissolution process of spent fuel is acceptable for reprocessing operations.
Takano, Sho*; Kusagaya, Kazuyuki*; Goto, Daisuke*; Sakamoto, Kan*; Yamashita, Shinichiro
Proceedings of 2017 Water Reactor Fuel Performance Meeting (WRFPM 2017) (USB Flash Drive), 10 Pages, 2017/09
We focused on one of accident tolerant fuel (ATF) materials, Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Fe-Cr-Al Steel (FeCrAl-ODS). There is a reasonable prospect that FeCrAl-ODS is applied to BWRs, but relatively high neutron absorption should be compensated. To decrease adverse neutron economic impact, thin FeCrAl-ODS cladding was designed, and we evaluated characteristics of a core into which 99 Advanced BWR (ABWR) bundles with thin FeCrAl-ODS claddings were loaded. Thin FeCrAl-ODS water rods and channel boxes were also applied. We confirmed that FeCrAl-ODS core reactivity was sufficient by increasing enrichment of UO fuel under the limit of 5 wt%. Moreover, some representative FeCrAl-ODS core characteristics were comparable to zircaloy core. We also confirmed that fuel thermal-mechanical behaviors of thin FeCrAl-ODS cladding at normal operation and transient conditions were acceptable. These results led to a conclusion that FeCrAl-ODS was applicable to BWR in the analysis range of this study.
Sakamoto, Kan*; Hirai, Mutsumi*; Ukai, Shigeharu*; Kimura, Akihiko*; Yamaji, Akifumi*; Kusagaya, Kazuyuki*; Kondo, Takao*; Yamashita, Shinichiro
Proceedings of 2017 Water Reactor Fuel Performance Meeting (WRFPM 2017) (USB Flash Drive), 7 Pages, 2017/09
This paper will show the overview of current status of development of accident tolerant FeCrAl-ODS fuel claddings for BWRs (boiling water reactors) in the program sponsored and organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan. This program is being carried out to create the technical basis for the practical use of the accident tolerant fuels and the other components in LWRs through multifaceted activities. In the development of FeCrAl-ODS fuel claddings both the experimental and the analytical studies have been performed. The acquisition and accumulation of key material properties of FeCrAl-ODS fuel claddings were conducted by using bar, sheet and tube shaped FeCrAl-ODS materials fabricated in this program to support the evaluations in the analytical studies. A neutron irradiation test was also started in the ORNL High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) to examine the effect of neutron irradiation on the mechanical properties.
Yamashita, Shinichiro; Nagase, Fumihisa; Kurata, Masaki; Nozawa, Takashi; Watanabe, Seiichi*; Kirimura, Kazuki*; Kakiuchi, Kazuo*; Kondo, Takao*; Sakamoto, Kan*; Kusagaya, Kazuyuki*; et al.
Proceedings of 2017 Water Reactor Fuel Performance Meeting (WRFPM 2017) (USB Flash Drive), 10 Pages, 2017/09
In Japan, the research and development (R&D) project on accident tolerant fuel and other components (ATFs) of light water reactors (LWRs) has been initiated in 2015 for establishing technical basis of ATFs. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has coordinated and carried out this ATF R&D project in cooperation with power plant providers, fuel venders and universities for making the best use of the experiences, knowledges in commercial uses of zirconium-base alloys (Zircaloy) in LWRs. ATF candidate materials under consideration in the project are FeCrAl steel strengthened by dispersion of fine oxide particles(FeCrAl-ODS) and silicon carbide (SiC) composite, and are expecting to endure severe accident conditions in the reactor core for a longer period of time than the Zircaloy while maintaining or improving fuel performance during normal operations. In this paper, the progresses of the R&D project are reported.
