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Stability of plasma-sprayed TiN and ZrN coatings on graphite for application to uranium-melting crucibles for pyroprocessing

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Abstract

The high-temperature stability of ZrN and TiN coatings deposited by plasma spraying on graphite crucibles for melting uranium was investigated. A layer of mixed Zr (or Ti) oxide and nitride was formed with a thickness of 80–100 μm. The chemical stability was evaluated by a melting test with uranium at 1400 °C. The ZrN layer disappeared after the melting test, but the TiN layer remained stable. The thermal stability was evaluated by heating up to 1400 °C; the surface of the crucible coated with ZrN flaked off after this test, whereas the surface of the crucible coated with TiN remained almost intact.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korean government (MSIP) (No.2012M2A8A5025699).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Fuel Cycle Process Technology Development Division, Korea Atomic Enery Research Institute, Daejeon, 305-353, Republic of Korea

    Junhyuk Jang, Ho-Se Lee & Sungjai Lee

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  1. Junhyuk Jang
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  2. Ho-Se Lee
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  3. Sungjai Lee
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Correspondence to Junhyuk Jang.

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Jang, J., Lee, HS. & Lee, S. Stability of plasma-sprayed TiN and ZrN coatings on graphite for application to uranium-melting crucibles for pyroprocessing. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 310, 1173–1180 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4947-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4947-6

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