Fast reactor technology provides a path to transmute long-lived transuranic actinide isotopes contained in spent nuclear fuels. In an effort to aid to the development of these fuels, we propose to examine a sample from the Advanced Fuels Campaign (AFC) AFC-2E experiment, which contains a historical casting from the Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) Program to provide comparison between the performance of archived and newly cast ternary fuels.

The objective of the proposed research is to conduct detailed microstructural examination of the phases formed within fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) region of irradiated U-20Pu-10Zr fuel. The PIs will conduct scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy to obtain microscopic elemental and structural information in the fuel, in the cladding, and in the FCCI region. This proposal will fill the knowledge gap on FCCI in irradiated U-Pu-Zr fuels, thus directly benefiting Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCRD) at DOE-NE.

Technical relevance of the proposal is directly related to the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energies mission to advance nuclear power as a resource capable of meeting the nation?s energy, environmental, and national security needs, and the mission to develop next-generation advanced nuclear fuels. The proposed project will benefit The Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCRD) project, funded by DOE NE and Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI). Fast reactor technology provides a path to transmute long-lived transuranic actinide isotopes contained in spent nuclear fuels. However, development and demonstration of this technology requires an in-depth understanding of the fuel performance. As such, candidate nuclear fuels and possible transmutation compositions undergo irradiation testing in a prototypic fast reactor spectrum. Postirradiation examination of these materials provides data on reactor fuel performance and input into future fuel design choices. In an effort to aid to the development of these fuels, we propose to examine a sample from the AFC-2E experiment, which contains a historical casting from the Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) Program to provide comparison between the performance of archived and newly cast ternary fuels.