Microstructural and phase changes in alpha uranium investigated via in-situ studies and molecular dynamics

Abstract

A deeper knowledge of thermally induced microstructural and phase evolution in nuclear metallic fuel can be obtained using novel in-situ microscopic analyses. Such studies can provide information on the dynamics of phase transitions which is not possible with conventional postmortem characterization (post-irradiation examination). In this work, the behavior of alpha uranium (α-U) was investigated via in-situ heating tests in a transmission electron microscope. The main objective is to understand the microstructural and phase changes, such as defect annihilation and β phase formation and retention, observed in reactor in-pile transient studies at the Transient Reactor Test facility. Indeed, defect migration and rearrangement were observed within the α phase starting at 673 K; α→β phase transition was observed between 773 K and 1,073 K during the heating ramp (which is in the temperature window reported for α→β transition temperatures). Recrystallization and formation of nano grains was observed at high temperatures (over 1,073 K). Such recrystallization was possibly related to the formation of the γ phase. Finally, it was indeed observed that the β phase (but not γ phase) was retained at room temperature upon rapid cooling. Molecular dynamics studies support these experimental results and shows that the γ phase of pure uranium cannot be retained at room temperature if not stabilized with the addition of an alloying element.