Interaction between multi-component lanthanide alloy and ferritic-martensitic steel

Abstract

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of lanthanide elements which are generated during the fission process on the interaction between metal fuel and cladding material. Quartenary lanthanide alloy as Nd-Ce-Pr-La and Sm-contained quintenary alloy were manufactured by vacuum arc remelting and a diffusion couple test with HT9 (12Cr1MoWV) alloy was carried out at 660 and 700 °C for up to 231 h followed by microstructural analysis. The results showed that interdiffusion between lanthanide element (Nd, Ce) and Fe took place as the diffusion couple test proceeds to form intermetallic compounds as an RE₂(Fe,Cr)₁₇ (RE=Nd, Ce, Pr, La) type. As the number of alloying elements increased, the reaction layer thickness increased, but a deviation of the theoretical non-linear relationship as well as an increase in the rate exponent occurred. Instantaneous diffusion of Fe into a lanthanide side and its associated Fe depletion beneath the interface acted as the major driving force in forming the reaction layer. The addition of Ce enhanced the Nd diffusion and increased the layer growth when compared to pure Nd alone.