Thermal expansion of the nuclear fuel-sodium reaction product Na3(U0.84(2),Na0.16(2))O4 - Structural mechanism and comparison with related sodium-metal ternary oxides

Journal article (2017)

Authors

Marie Claire Illy European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements Karlsruhe, ENS-PSL Research University & CNRS
A.L. Smith European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements Karlsruhe, RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials - AS
Gilles Wallez UPMC-Sorbonne Universités & CNRS, ENS-PSL Research University & CNRS
Philippe E. Raison European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements Karlsruhe
Roberto Caciuffo European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements Karlsruhe
R. J.M. Konings European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements Karlsruhe
Research Group
RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials (AS) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

01-07-2017

Language

English

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Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

RST/Radiation, Science and Technology

Research Group

RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials

Abstract

Na3.16(2)UV,VI 0.84(2)O4 is obtained from the reaction of sodium with uranium dioxide under oxygen potential conditions typical of a sodium-cooled fast nuclear reactor. In the event of a breach of the steel cladding, it would be the dominant reaction product forming at the rim of the mixed (U,Pu)O2 fuel pellets. High-temperature X-ray diffraction measurements show that a distortion of the uranium environment in Na3.16(2)UV,VI 0.84(2)O4 results in a strongly anisotropic thermal expansion. A comparison with several related sodium metallates Nan-2Mn+On-1 - including Na3SbO4 and Na3TaO4, whose crystal structures are reported for the first time - has allowed us to assess the role played in the lattice expansion by the Mn+ cation radius and the Na/M ratio. On this basis, the thermomechanical behavior of the title compound is discussed, along with those of several related double oxides of sodium and actinide elements, surrogate elements, or fission products.

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