Neutron Diffraction - A Probe for Grain Size and Preferred Orientation in Zircaloy-Clad Uranium

Abstract

AbstractA recent goal of the ANL Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) has been the fabrication of a new enriched uranium target with increased neutron flux (by a factor of 3) which is dimensionally stable under irradiation. Neutron diffraction, using several instruments both at IPNS and MURR, has been used as a probe to characterize the target material vith respect to grain size and preferred orientation. The samples studied were portions of the uranium discs (4" diameter X 1/2" thick) which, when stacked, form the target assembly at IPNS. The old target discs were fabricated as slices from a fast cooled casting (arc-melted, water cooled in a cylindrical mold) and possess small grain size and negligible orientation. The new enriched target discs, on the other hand, are being fabricated from a slow cooled material (graphite book-mold, natural cooling) and, prior to additional treatment, have a large grain size and a high degree of preferred orientation which could produce dimensional changes during fission as the target is used. Our conclusion from this investigation is that a β-phase heat treatment (quench from 730°C) is necessary to produce a finer grain and more nearly random texture in thg new enriched material. Based on our detailed texture measurements the anticipated target lifetime of several years appears feasible.