Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2005 International RERTR Meeting

OBSERVATIONS OF THE NUCLEATION AND EVOLUTION OF POROSITY IN U-Mo FUELS

G.L. Hofman, M.R. Finlay*, Y.S. Kim, H.J. Ryu** and J. Rest
Argonne National Laboratory
Nuclear Engineering Division
Argonne, Illinois 60439

*On assignment from the
Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
PMB 1 Menai NSW 2234 – Australia

**On assignment from KAERI

ABSTRACT

The irradiation of UMo fuel dispersed in a matrix of aluminum results in the formation of a reaction product that coats the fuel particle surface. In some instances pores form at the interface between the reaction product and the aluminum matrix. Depending on the irradiation conditions the pores may grow, link-up to form larger pores and in severe cases form a continuous network that results in unacceptable pillowing of the fuel plate. Such observations have been made in US and other international irradiation experiments. Evaluation of the irradiation conditions and the nature of porosity formation in these experiments permit us to draw some conclusions on the influence of various parameters such as fission density, fission rate, temperature and composition. In particular, the irradiation experiments RERTR-4 and RERTR-5, conducted in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) are reviewed.

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