Author:
Richardson J. W.,Birtcher R. C.,Mueller M. H.
Abstract
AbstractNeutron diffraction data were collected from a highly radioactive, low-enrichment uraniumU3Si2/A1 fuel mini-plate that had been irradiated to 42% uranium burnup. The experiment was performed using the General Purpose Powder Diffractometer at IPNS. Most prominent in the diffraction pattern were the Bragg reflections from crystalline Al (fuel plate) and V (sample container). Rietveld refinement revealed a broad oscillatory signal from the U3Si2 typical of amorphous material. This “amorphous” scattering pattern has peaks at the same positions as the amorphous scattering components observed following room temperature neutron irradiation of U3Si2 powder. The irradiated U3Si2 is amorphous with a remote possibility that it consists of recrystallized nanocrystalline particles subject to the requirements that the crystallites: (i) are no larger than 100-200 Å in size, and (ii) possess a crystalline lattice which is distorted relative to the unirradiated material.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference10 articles.
1. Microstructural changes induced in Zr3Al and U3Si during irradiation of the crystalline state
2. 3 Birtcher R. C. , Allen C.W. , Hofman G.L. and Rehn L.E. , 14 Int. Sys. on Effects of Rad. on Mater. Andover, Ma (1988), 782.
3. 10 Dreele R. B. Von and Larson A. C. , Generalized Structure Analysis System (GSAS) (1986).
4. Neutron Irradiated Uranium Silicides Studied by Neutron Diffraction and Rietveld Analysis