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On the Interactions of Molybdenum and Graphite, a Promising Material System for Microreactors

  • Materials for Small Nuclear Reactors and Micro Reactors, including Space Reactors
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Abstract

Critical components for many microreactor designs include the core, heat pipe cladding, fuel, and moderator. This article reviews the interactions between graphite and Mo in order to assess the practicability of using Mo as a cladding heat pipe material in a graphite monolith core microreactor. The current literature data on the carburization of Mo are examined and confirmed with new experimental data. The available data for the diffusion of carbon through Mo are summarized, and calculations are performed to showcase the feasibility of such a system, assuming a nominal alkali metal heat pipe design. Finally, material options for protective coatings that could be applied to Mo in order to mitigate unwanted interactions with carbon are reviewed and key data on the thermal expansion coefficient match with Mo as well as the available carbon diffusion rate data for these materials are summarized.

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Acknowledgements

The information, data, or work presented herein was funded in part by the Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E), US Department of Energy. The support of the US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Technology Research and Development program is gratefully acknowledged. This work was performed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is operated by Triad National Security, LLC, for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the US Department of Energy under Contract No. 89233218CNA000001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    E. Kardoulaki, T. J. Nizolek & E. P. Luther

  2. Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, USA

    M. Swartz

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  1. E. Kardoulaki
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  2. T. J. Nizolek
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  3. E. P. Luther
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Kardoulaki, E., Nizolek, T.J., Luther, E.P. et al. On the Interactions of Molybdenum and Graphite, a Promising Material System for Microreactors. JOM 73, 3499–3512 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-021-04876-8

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