Open AccessExamination of disks from the IPNS depleted uranium target
Author(s) -
R.V. Strain,
J.M. Carpenter
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/195711
Subject(s) - cladding (metalworking) , uranium , zirconium alloy , materials science , coolant , fission , nuclear engineering , enriched uranium , neutron , metallurgy , radiochemistry , nuclear physics , zirconium , chemistry , physics , engineering
This report describes the results of examining the Zircaloy-2 clad depleted uranium disks from the Intense Pulse Neutron Source (IPNS) Target. That target operated from August, 1981 to June, 1988 and from September, 1991 to September, 1992 at 450 MeV, pulsing at 30 Hz with a time average proton current of about 15 {micro}A. The target was removed from service when the presence of fission products ({sup 135}Xe) in the coolant cover gas indicated a failure in the Zircaloy-2 cladding. Altogether, the target had absorbed about 240 mA hours of proton current, and endured between 50,000 and 100,000 thermal cycles. The purpose of the examination was to assess the condition of the disks and determine the cause of the cladding failure. The results of visual, gamma ray scanning, and destructive metallurgical examination of two disks are described