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15 Hot Fuel Examination Facility Metallography Optical microscopy is used for characterization of fuel grain size and morphology poros- ity phase fuel-cladding interaction cladding oxide thickness and hydride distribution. HFEF houses a shielded metallography cell connected to the main cell via pneumatic transfer tube. The containment box operates under argon atmosphere to prevent rapid oxi- dation of sample surfaces. Metallographic images of irradiated specimens can be acquired using either a Leitz MM5 RT metallograph or LECO AMH43 microindentation hardness testing system. Digital cameras integrated the metallograph and the microhardness tester are used to capture optical microscopy data for further analysis. Item Limits Magnification range of microscope 20X to 800X Hardness tester magnification 400X Minimum hardness tester weight 5 gm Maximum hardness tester weight 400 gm Table 5. Leitz MM5 RT metallograph limits. Microhardness testing Microhardness testing is performed with a LECO AMH43 microindentation hardness testing system installed in a shielded inert atmosphere alpha containment hot cell. The microhardness tester is capable of applying loads from 10 grams to 1 kilogram. The sample stage can be position controlled to within 1 m. Image acquisition is through a high resolution CCD camera. Bow and length machine The element bow and length machine measures the distortion bow and actual length of irradiated cylindrical fuel elements and capsules. It can be used to determine fuel element or core component length and bow as well as the direction of the plane of the bow. Item Limit ElementCapsule Length 18 to 139 in. ElementCapsule Diameter 1 in. max Accuracy of Bow Measurements 0.020 in. Accuracy of Length Measurements 0.010 in. Table 6. Bow and length machine limits.