Experimental Phase Diagram Study of the Fe-Ni-Te System

Abstract

Fe-Ni-Te alloys have been experimentally studied using isothermal heat treatments with SEM–EDS and WDS, XRD, and DTA in order to add phase diagram data for a thermodynamic assessment. This is for the application of fission product-induced corrosion of the stainless steel cladding of nuclear fuel pins, where Te is a key element. Phase diagram data are presented at 700 and 800∘C, together with the solidus and liquidus temperatures from 44 to 80 at.% Te. Metallographic and XRD analysis show that the β2 phase forms as a Widmanstätten structure, preferentially precipitated in the τ phase. SEM images show unidentified precipitates in several samples.