CHARACTERIZATION OF CORRODED METALLIC URANIUM FUEL PLATES

A brief background on the history of the corrosion of uranium metal fu el plates from the Zero Power Physics Reactor (ZPPR) and the findings of a recent characterization of the corrosion are presented. The chara cterization encompassed visual examination, metallography, scanning el ectron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Corrosion of the plates has been observed essentially since their manufacture. The corrosion was f ound to have both general and localized forms. A black powder corrosio n product associated with areas of localized attack was determined to be UH3, while the remainder of the corrosion product was UO2+x. (C) 19 98 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.