Abstract
The electrometallurgical treatment of zirconium-based and Zircaloy-clad spent nuclear fuels will yield a metal waste form. The baseline composition for the waste form is zirconium-8 wt% stainless steel (Zr-8SS). The microstructure of the Zr-8SS alloy has been studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and neutron diffraction. The phases present in the as-cast alloy include Zr(α), Zr3(Fe,Ni), Zr2(Fe,Ni), Zr2(Fe,Cr), and Zr(Fe,Cr)2; a solidification sequence has been proposed to explain the formation and morphology of these phases. Alloy phase stability has been studied by thermal aging at 780°C for periods up to 30 days. The phase changes that occur during thermal aging include an increase in Zr3(Fe,Ni) and a decrease in Zr2(Fe,Ni) content; reaction mechanisms have been proposed to explain these changes. The lattice parameters of alloy phases have been determined by neutron diffraction and found to be in agreement with those previously reported for similar phases. This study of alloy microstructures is the first step towards understanding the actinide and fission product distribution and predicting the corrosion behavior of the Zr-8SS metal waste form.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C. C. McPheeters, E. C. Gay, E. J. Karell and J. P. Ackerman, JOM 49 (1997) 22.
S. M. McDeavitt, D. P. Abraham and J. Y. Park, J. Nucl. Mater. 257 (1998) 21.
B. Cox, “Advances in Corrosion Science and Technology,” Vol. 5 (Plenum Press, New York, 1976) p. 173.
S. Kass, Corrosion of Zirconium Alloys, ASTM STP-368, American Society for Testing of Materials, Philadelphia, PA, 1964, p. 3.
D. Arias, M. S. Granovsky and J. P. Abriata, “Phase Diagrams of Binary Iron Alloys,” edited by H. Okamoto (ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1993) p. 467.
D. Arias and J. P. Abriata, “Binary Alloy Phase Diagrams,” Vol. 2, edited by T. P. MASSALSKI (ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1990) p. 1798.
D. P. Abraham, Argonne National Laboratory, unpublished data.
A. C. Larson and R. B. Von Dreele, Los Alamos National Laboratory Report, LAUR 86-748, 1986.
J. P. Abriata, J. Garces and R. Versaci, Bull. Alloy Phase Diagrams 7 (1986) 116.
B. O. Lichter, Trans. Metall. Soc. AIME 218 (1960) 1015.
V. Raghavan, “Phase Diagrams of Ternary Iron Alloys, Part 6B” (Indian Institute of Metals, Calcutta, 1992) p. 711.
Idem. “Phase Diagrams of Ternary Iron Alloys, Part 6B” (Indian Institute of Metals, Calcutta, 1992) p. 1094.
S. C. Moss, Ph.D. Thesis, Massachusetts Inst. Technol., Cambridge, MA, 1959.
K. Kanematsu and Y. Fujita, J. Phys. Soc. Japan 29 (1970) 864.
D. Shaltiel, I. Jacob and D. Davidov, J. Less-Common Metals 53 (1977) 117.
E. E. Havinga, H. Damsma and P. Hokkeling, ibid. 27 (1972) 169.
D. Arias and J. P. Abriata, Bull. Alloy Phase Diagrams 7 (1986) 237.
J. A. Sawicki, G. M. Hood, H. Zou and R. J. Schultz, J. Nucl. Mater. 218 (1995) 161.
R. A. Holt, ibid. 35 (1970) 322.
G. Okvist and K. Kallstrom, ibid. 35 (1970) 316.
J. Crepin, T. Bretheau, D. Caldemaison, A. Barbu and G. Jazkierowitcz, J. Mater. Sci. 32 (1997) 4841.
J. Crepin, T. Bretheau and D. Caldemaison, Acta Metall. Mater. 43 (1995) 3709.
N. Rao and V. Bangaru, J. Nucl. Mater. 131 (1985) 280.
T. E. Perez and M. E. Sagesse, Metallography 15 (1982) 43.
D. A. Porter and K. E. Easterling, “Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys” (Van Nostrand Reinhold International, Berkshire, England, 1981) p. 314.
J. Goldak, L. T. Lloyd and C. S. Barrett, Phys. Rev. 144 (1966) 478.
R. M. Kruger and R. B. Adamson, J. Nucl. Mater. 205 (1993) 242.
K. H. J. Buschow, J. Less-Common Metals 79 (1981) 243.
P. Chemelle, D. B. Knorr, J. B. Van Der Sande and R. M. Pelloux, J. Nucl. Mater. 113 (1983) 58.
W. J. S. Yang, R. P. Tucker, B. Cheng and R. B. Adamson, ibid. 138 (1986) 185.
O. Canet, M. Latroche, F. BourÉe-Vigneron and A. Percheron-GuÉgan, J. Alloys Comp. 210 (1994) 129.
P. Nash and C. S. Jayanath, Bull. Alloy Phase Diagrams 5 (1984) 144.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abraham, D.P., Richardson, J.W. & McDeavitt, S.M. Microscopy and neutron diffraction study of a zirconium-8 wt% stainless steel alloy. Journal of Materials Science 36, 5143–5154 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012433526079
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012433526079