Recommended Books

1. Comprehensive Nuclear Materials by Rudy

J.M. Konings

2. Materials Science and Technology Vol. 10A

& 10 B by R.W. Cahn

3. Uranium Processing and Properties by

Jonathan S. Morrell
 Typical
Materials for a
PWR
A survey of
Reactor
Materials
 Fuel Materials
• UO2 PWR, BWR,
Oxide • (U, Pu)O2 (also called MOX) FBR, VVER,
Fuels • Thorium oxide fuels (much studied but CANDU, AGR
not commercialized) Annual > 68000 tU

• U-Pu-Zr
IFR, EBR-I & II,
Metallic • U-alloys (Ti, Mo, Nb etc.) DFR, FFTF
Fuels • U-Fs
Fs = 2.46Mo, 1.96Ru, 0.28Rh, 0.19Pd, 0.1Zr, 0.01Nb

• U-Al alloys
• UAlx (UAl2 , UAl3, UAl4) in Al
• U3O8 in Al
Dispersion • UO2 in SS
Fuels • UO2 in BeO Research and
• U in ZrH Test Reactors
• PuO2 + UO2 in SS
• UO2 in Zr
• UO2+UC2 in graphite
• U silicides (U3Si2 and U3Si) in Al
 • UN (for SP-100) Space Reactors
Nitride • (U, Pu)N (15 to 25 % Pu) (SP-100 program),
Fuels • (U, Pu, MA)N (MA = Np, Am, Cm) Gen IV Fast
• (Pu, MA)N (diluted with ZrN) Reactors, ADS
Carbide • UC Gen IV Fast
Fuels • (U, Pu)C Reactors

Pebble bed &

TRISO Specially designed fuel
Prismatic Reactors
Fuels UO2 or UCO
Gen IV Reactors
 Cladding Materials
Zr alloys

Stainless steels
304
316
D9
HT-9 etc.
Moderator & Reflector Materials

• Graphite
• Be (major use as reflector)
• BeO
• ZrH2 (major as a reflector)
• Light water
• Heavy water
 Structural Materials

Nickel based alloys: Stainless steels:

Alloy 400 304
Alloy 600 316
Alloy X-750 321
Alloy 718 347
Alloy 690 D9
Alloy 800 PCA
Alloy A286 HT-UPS
AlloyC-276 CF3MN
Alloy C-22 CF8
Alloy 625 CF8M
Alloy 625 LCF CF8C
Alloy 230
 Uranium Metal
Allotropic Forms:
C = 4.95 Å
[001]

B =5.86 Å [010]

(100)
A = 2.85 Å
[001]

[100]

[010] [100]

(001)
Uranium
Irradiation Growth
Change in shape of uranium sample without significant change in volume

C = 4.95 Å
Vacancies

Interstitials

B =5.86 Å

A = 2.85 Å