Fabrication of Stoichiometric U₃Si₂ Fuel Pellets

Authors

Adrian R. Wagner, Boise State University
Jason M. Harp, Boise State University
Kip E. Archibald, Boise State University
Seth C. Ashby, Boise State University
Jennifer K. Watkins, Boise State University
Kevin R. Tolman, Boise State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2019

Abstract

Uranium silicide, U₃Si₂, is an accident tolerant fuel type which is gaining momentum as a replacement fuel for uranium dioxide (UO₂). Idaho National Laboratories has been fabricating phase pure U₃Si₂ fuel pellets for use in various irradiation and material characterization experiments. Stoichiometric U₃Si₂ fuel pellets were fabricated using a powder metallurgy and arcmelting technique. The use of the stoichiometric ratio to alloy uranium and silicon, and sintering in a vacuum environment allowed for the fabrication of high density (>94% theoretical density), phase pure pellets, greater than 94% U₃Si₂. Silicon volatilization was not observed in the as-sintered microstructure, which has been verified through XRD and SEM, thus eliminating the need to alloy a substoichiometric U/Si ratio.

• Stoichiometric ratio of U to Si used to form U₃Si₂ phase.
• Decrease in secondary phases present confirm absence of silicon volatilization.
• Analysis via XRD and SEM confirm the phase purity of the U₃Si₂ fuel pellets.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Publication Information

Wagner, Adrian R.; Harp, Jason M.; Archibald, Kip E.; Ashby, Seth C.; Watkins, Jennifer K.; and Tolman, Kevin R. (2019). "Fabrication of Stoichiometric U₃Si₂ Fuel Pellets". MethodsX, 6, 1252-1260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2019.05.016