Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156370
Juntao Huang , Chunyan Yu , Jingting Luo , Yongwen Guo , Likai Guo , Jingchun Li , Yong Liu
Adsorbate-induced surface segregation is a critical behavior governing the alloy performance. In corrosive fluorine-rich environments, however, this phenomenon remains unclear. Herein, first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to investigate the fluorine-induced segregation of two representative alloying elements (Cu and Cr) on Ni-based alloy surfaces. An opposite effect was found that F adsorption can suppress Cu segregation while enhancing Cr segregation. Structural analysis revealed that lattice distortion alone is insufficient to account for the observed difference in segregation trends. Instead, surface electronic properties play a more dominant role. The Cr-F interaction features as strong orbital hybridization and localized charge transfer, favoring Cr segregation to the surface. Conversely, Cu shows weaker bonding with F, with partial electron transferred into adjacent Ni atoms. This indirectly results in enhanced Cu-Ni bonding along vertical direction and reduced surface stability, driving Cu to migrate into the subsurface layer. These findings unveil the atomic-level mechanisms of element-specific segregation behaviors under fluorine adsorption, and provide insights into the early-stage dealloying and corrosion processes of Ni-based alloys in fluorine-rich environments.
{"title":"Unveiling the origin of different fluorine-induced segregation properties of Cu and Cr on Ni-based alloy surfaces: Insights from DFT study","authors":"Juntao Huang , Chunyan Yu , Jingting Luo , Yongwen Guo , Likai Guo , Jingchun Li , Yong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156370","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156370","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adsorbate-induced surface segregation is a critical behavior governing the alloy performance. In corrosive fluorine-rich environments, however, this phenomenon remains unclear. Herein, first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to investigate the fluorine-induced segregation of two representative alloying elements (Cu and Cr) on Ni-based alloy surfaces. An opposite effect was found that F adsorption can suppress Cu segregation while enhancing Cr segregation. Structural analysis revealed that lattice distortion alone is insufficient to account for the observed difference in segregation trends. Instead, surface electronic properties play a more dominant role. The Cr-F interaction features as strong orbital hybridization and localized charge transfer, favoring Cr segregation to the surface. Conversely, Cu shows weaker bonding with F, with partial electron transferred into adjacent Ni atoms. This indirectly results in enhanced Cu-Ni bonding along vertical direction and reduced surface stability, driving Cu to migrate into the subsurface layer. These findings unveil the atomic-level mechanisms of element-specific segregation behaviors under fluorine adsorption, and provide insights into the early-stage dealloying and corrosion processes of Ni-based alloys in fluorine-rich environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"620 ","pages":"Article 156370"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156368
Zhiguo Yang , Guoqiang Zhao , Wanjun Shi , Xianzhou Ning , Bo Xie , Wei Zhang , Bin Ye , Yushan Yang
A single phase hollandite waste form was developed to immobilize the high-sodium and cesium-rich waste (HSCRW) stream derived from the trialkyl phosphine oxide (TRPO) process. In this work, the (1-x)Ba1.2Cr2.4Ti5.6O16·xHSCRW (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) ceramics were fabricated to investigate the effect of HSCRW incorporation on phase composition, microstructure and chemical durability of the synthesized hollandite ceramics. It was found that all waste elements are successfully embedded into the hollandite crystal structure, and the samples sintered at 1150 °C with x ≤ 0.15 showed a pure hollandite phase. The leaching test indicated that the normalized leaching rates of the waste elements Cs, Na, Rb, Sr, Mo, Fe, Ni, Ru and Rh in the as-prepared ceramic waste forms were ∼ 10-3g·m-2·d-1, with corresponding LX values > 14.5 after 28 days of leaching. Moreover, the leached samples maintained a single-phase hollandite with tetragonal structure (I4/m). These results demonstrate that hollandite ceramics can serve as promising host matrices for immobilizing HSCRW.
{"title":"Immobilization of high-sodium and cesium-rich waste derived from TRPO process in single phase hollandite ceramic waste forms","authors":"Zhiguo Yang , Guoqiang Zhao , Wanjun Shi , Xianzhou Ning , Bo Xie , Wei Zhang , Bin Ye , Yushan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A single phase hollandite waste form was developed to immobilize the high-sodium and cesium-rich waste (HSCRW) stream derived from the trialkyl phosphine oxide (TRPO) process. In this work, the (1-<em>x</em>)Ba<sub>1.2</sub>Cr<sub>2.4</sub>Ti<sub>5.6</sub>O<sub>16</sub>·<em>x</em>HSCRW (0.0 ≤ <em>x</em> ≤ 0.2) ceramics were fabricated to investigate the effect of HSCRW incorporation on phase composition, microstructure and chemical durability of the synthesized hollandite ceramics. It was found that all waste elements are successfully embedded into the hollandite crystal structure, and the samples sintered at 1150 °C with <em>x</em> ≤ 0.15 showed a pure hollandite phase. The leaching test indicated that the normalized leaching rates of the waste elements Cs, Na, Rb, Sr, Mo, Fe, Ni, Ru and Rh in the as-prepared ceramic waste forms were ∼ 10<sup>-3</sup> <em>g</em>·m<sup>-2</sup>·d<sup>-1</sup>, with corresponding <em>LX</em> values > 14.5 after 28 days of leaching. Moreover, the leached samples maintained a single-phase hollandite with tetragonal structure (<em>I</em>4/m). These results demonstrate that hollandite ceramics can serve as promising host matrices for immobilizing HSCRW.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"621 ","pages":"Article 156368"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156371
Hai Huang , Xu Yu , Yanxin Jiang , Qing Peng , Guanyu Liu , Xiaobin Tang
Graphene (Gr)-reinforced metal matrix composites demonstrate excellent irradiation tolerance but face challenges in maintaining interfacial stability under extreme conditions. Using atomistic simulations, this study examines the evolution of the Gr/Ni-based alloy interface under 1000 cumulative recoils (∼0.333 dpa). Early cascade collisions minimally affect interfacial atomic order, but prolonged irradiation induces significant structural changes. Solute atoms progressively penetrate damaged Gr regions, thickening the interface. Gr retains portions of its six-membered ring structure and exhibits self-healing capabilities, balancing amorphous and crystalline phases even after extensive irradiation. Gr’s structural survival decays nonlinearly, stabilizing around 17.9 % after 1000 cascades. The damage evolution of Gr follows a four-stage progression characterized by distinct z-axis migration patterns influenced by solute atom interactions. Despite localized damage and disorder, Gr largely resists dissolution, maintaining its stabilizing role in interfacial integrity. Irradiation induces exponential decay of carbon-carbon bonds but growth of M–C bonds (where M denotes solute), paradoxically favoring metal-carbide formation over sp3 conversion. Furthermore, carbides nucleate preferentially at curled edges of Gr. These findings offer valuable insights into the irradiation-induced evolution of the composites for nuclear applications.
{"title":"Atomistic insights into the interfacial stability of graphene-reinforced Ni-based alloy composites after cumulative recoil events","authors":"Hai Huang , Xu Yu , Yanxin Jiang , Qing Peng , Guanyu Liu , Xiaobin Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156371","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156371","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Graphene (Gr)-reinforced metal matrix composites demonstrate excellent irradiation tolerance but face challenges in maintaining interfacial stability under extreme conditions. Using atomistic simulations, this study examines the evolution of the Gr/Ni-based alloy interface under 1000 cumulative recoils (∼0.333 dpa). Early cascade collisions minimally affect interfacial atomic order, but prolonged irradiation induces significant structural changes. Solute atoms progressively penetrate damaged Gr regions, thickening the interface. Gr retains portions of its six-membered ring structure and exhibits self-healing capabilities, balancing amorphous and crystalline phases even after extensive irradiation. Gr’s structural survival decays nonlinearly, stabilizing around 17.9 % after 1000 cascades. The damage evolution of Gr follows a four-stage progression characterized by distinct z-axis migration patterns influenced by solute atom interactions. Despite localized damage and disorder, Gr largely resists dissolution, maintaining its stabilizing role in interfacial integrity. Irradiation induces exponential decay of carbon-carbon bonds but growth of M–C bonds (where M denotes solute), paradoxically favoring metal-carbide formation over <em>sp<sup>3</sup></em> conversion. Furthermore, carbides nucleate preferentially at curled edges of Gr. These findings offer valuable insights into the irradiation-induced evolution of the composites for nuclear applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"620 ","pages":"Article 156371"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156365
Xilei Duan , Qiang Zhang , Xueyang Liu , Zhenghua Qian , Kui Zhang , Guanyu Zhu , Yanbo Qiao
RuO2 deposits during nuclear waste vitrification significantly alter the rheology of glass melts. This study systematically investigated the effects of RuO2 content and crystal morphology on the rheological behavior of borosilicate glass melts using a high-temperature rotary viscometer. Acicular (RuO2#a) and granular (RuO2#g) crystals were prepared via a molten salt synthesis (MSS) method. The results demonstrate that increasing RuO2 content markedly enhances melt viscosity and induces pronounced non-Newtonian behavior (shear-thinning). Crucially, the crystal morphology governs this effect: the high-aspect-ratio RuO2#a facilitates the formation of a sample-spanning three-dimensional network, leading to a more significant viscosity increase and stronger shear-thinning compared to its granular counterpart (RuO2#g) at an equivalent content. Fitting with the Cross model quantitatively confirms the superior network-forming ability of acicular crystals, yielding a significantly higher zero-shear viscosity (η0) and a longer relaxation time (λ), which signifies a stronger and more stable agglomerate structure. This work establishes crystal morphology as a decisive factor in controlling the rheology of RuO2-bearing glass melts.
{"title":"Morphology-governed rheology of RuO2 in borosilicate glass melts: Network formation and shear-thinning behavior","authors":"Xilei Duan , Qiang Zhang , Xueyang Liu , Zhenghua Qian , Kui Zhang , Guanyu Zhu , Yanbo Qiao","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156365","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156365","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>RuO<sub>2</sub> deposits during nuclear waste vitrification significantly alter the rheology of glass melts. This study systematically investigated the effects of RuO<sub>2</sub> content and crystal morphology on the rheological behavior of borosilicate glass melts using a high-temperature rotary viscometer. Acicular (RuO<sub>2</sub>#a) and granular (RuO<sub>2</sub>#g) crystals were prepared via a molten salt synthesis (MSS) method. The results demonstrate that increasing RuO<sub>2</sub> content markedly enhances melt viscosity and induces pronounced non-Newtonian behavior (shear-thinning). Crucially, the crystal morphology governs this effect: the high-aspect-ratio RuO<sub>2</sub>#a facilitates the formation of a sample-spanning three-dimensional network, leading to a more significant viscosity increase and stronger shear-thinning compared to its granular counterpart (RuO<sub>2</sub>#g) at an equivalent content. Fitting with the Cross model quantitatively confirms the superior network-forming ability of acicular crystals, yielding a significantly higher zero-shear viscosity (<em>η<sub>0</sub></em>) and a longer relaxation time (<em>λ</em>), which signifies a stronger and more stable agglomerate structure. This work establishes crystal morphology as a decisive factor in controlling the rheology of RuO<sub>2</sub>-bearing glass melts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"621 ","pages":"Article 156365"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156366
Ji-Hyeok Choi , Ji Hyun Lee , Su Hyeong Kim , Unho Lee , Dong-Joo Kim , Young Soo Yoon
This study investigates the oxidation and nitridation of a double-layer SS316L/Zr-alloy accident-tolerant fuel cladding fabricated using a room-temperature, non-vacuum swaging–drawing methodology (SDM). Exposure to laboratory air up to 1,200°C produced Cr-rich and Fe-rich oxide regions at the interface, which served as an initial barrier. Additionally, local gaps inherent to the SDM process promoted the formation of a composite ZrN–ZrO2 layer at the SS/Zr interface, which acted as a secondary diffusion barrier. Despite the breakdown of the external passive film and weld-induced cracking of the SS316L tube above 900°C, the double-layer cladding maintained its integrity longer than the bare Zr alloy. Mass-gain measurements and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the bare Zr-alloy cladding rapidly formed monoclinic ZrO2 above 900°C, whereas the double-layer cladding preserved α/α′-Zr up to ≈1,100°C with delayed m/t-ZrO2 formation. Raman peaks at ≈165, 224, and 503 cm⁻¹, combined with SAED data showing {111}(≈0.264 nm), {220}(≈0.162 nm) confirmed the presence of ZrN. The parabolic rate constant (mg²·cm⁻⁴·s⁻¹) estimated at 600–1,200°C was consistently lower for the double-layer cladding than for the bare Zr-alloy cladding. Arrhenius fits indicated a higher apparent activation energy for the double-layer system, demonstrating the effectiveness of the strengthened diffusion barriers. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the delayed oxidation observed under open-air, loss-of-coolant-accident-like conditions and highlight the protective role of discontinuous yet functional ZrN–ZrO2 composite layers.
{"title":"High-temperature air oxidation of SDM-fabricated SS316L/Zr-alloy ATF cladding: Evidence for local ZrN–ZrO2 composite diffusion barriers","authors":"Ji-Hyeok Choi , Ji Hyun Lee , Su Hyeong Kim , Unho Lee , Dong-Joo Kim , Young Soo Yoon","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156366","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156366","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the oxidation and nitridation of a double-layer SS316L/Zr-alloy accident-tolerant fuel cladding fabricated using a room-temperature, non-vacuum swaging–drawing methodology (SDM). Exposure to laboratory air up to 1,200°C produced Cr-rich and Fe-rich oxide regions at the interface, which served as an initial barrier. Additionally, local gaps inherent to the SDM process promoted the formation of a composite ZrN–ZrO<sub>2</sub> layer at the SS/Zr interface, which acted as a secondary diffusion barrier. Despite the breakdown of the external passive film and weld-induced cracking of the SS316L tube above 900°C, the double-layer cladding maintained its integrity longer than the bare Zr alloy. Mass-gain measurements and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the bare Zr-alloy cladding rapidly formed monoclinic ZrO<sub>2</sub> above 900°C, whereas the double-layer cladding preserved α/α′-Zr up to ≈1,100°C with delayed m/t-ZrO<sub>2</sub> formation. Raman peaks at ≈165, 224, and 503 cm⁻¹, combined with SAED data showing {111}(≈0.264 nm), {220}(≈0.162 nm) confirmed the presence of ZrN. The parabolic rate constant <span><math><msub><mi>k</mi><mi>p</mi></msub></math></span> (mg²·cm⁻⁴·s⁻¹) estimated at 600–1,200°C was consistently lower for the double-layer cladding than for the bare Zr-alloy cladding. Arrhenius fits indicated a higher apparent activation energy for the double-layer system, demonstrating the effectiveness of the strengthened diffusion barriers. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the delayed oxidation observed under open-air, loss-of-coolant-accident-like conditions and highlight the protective role of discontinuous yet functional ZrN–ZrO<sub>2</sub> composite layers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"620 ","pages":"Article 156366"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-07DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156360
Anton J. Schneider, Christopher Matthews, David A. Andersson, Michael W.D. Cooper
Uranium mononitride (UN) is one of the ceramic nuclear fuel alternatives to oxide fuels considered for light water reactor and advanced reactor designs, as it presents significant advantages such as high uranium density (better economics) and high thermal conductivity and melting point (increased safety). Self- and fission gas diffusivities need to be better understood, given that they influence key fuel performance phenomena like swelling and fission gas release. Recently, radiation enhanced diffusivity was investigated in UN by means of cluster dynamics simulations relying on empirical potential-based parameterizations, the reliability of which highly depends on the interatomic potential accuracy. In this work, we refine this approach by determining, using ab-initio calculations, the properties of defect clusters containing vacancies, self-interstitials and Xe impurities. We also consider larger clusters than previous studies. The obtained dataset (formation enthalpies, entropies, and migration barriers) is used to parameterize a cluster dynamics model of mobile clusters, and to calculate the defect cluster concentrations under irradiation. This gives us access to the radiation enhanced self- and fission gas diffusivities. Although the resulting diffusivities are close to the values reported in the literature, we find important qualitative differences in the diffusion mechanisms. Capturing the correct mechanisms is crucial to properly describe the chemistry and fission rate dependence of the model.
{"title":"Ab-initio informed cluster dynamics simulation of self- and Xe diffusivity in uranium mononitride under irradiation","authors":"Anton J. Schneider, Christopher Matthews, David A. Andersson, Michael W.D. Cooper","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156360","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156360","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Uranium mononitride (UN) is one of the ceramic nuclear fuel alternatives to oxide fuels considered for light water reactor and advanced reactor designs, as it presents significant advantages such as high uranium density (better economics) and high thermal conductivity and melting point (increased safety). Self- and fission gas diffusivities need to be better understood, given that they influence key fuel performance phenomena like swelling and fission gas release. Recently, radiation enhanced diffusivity was investigated in UN by means of cluster dynamics simulations relying on empirical potential-based parameterizations, the reliability of which highly depends on the interatomic potential accuracy. In this work, we refine this approach by determining, using ab-initio calculations, the properties of defect clusters containing vacancies, self-interstitials and Xe impurities. We also consider larger clusters than previous studies. The obtained dataset (formation enthalpies, entropies, and migration barriers) is used to parameterize a cluster dynamics model of mobile clusters, and to calculate the defect cluster concentrations under irradiation. This gives us access to the radiation enhanced self- and fission gas diffusivities. Although the resulting diffusivities are close to the values reported in the literature, we find important qualitative differences in the diffusion mechanisms. Capturing the correct mechanisms is crucial to properly describe the chemistry and fission rate dependence of the model.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"620 ","pages":"Article 156360"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156364
Jingfan Yang , Wei-Ying Chen , Xiaoyuan Lou
For the first time, this work revealed the dislocation dynamics during dislocation channel broadening through in-situ straining and radiation experiments in TEM. The study examines how the distribution of radiation-induced defects (mainly density and size) influences dislocation channel development. Serving as a follow-up study to our previous work (DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2024.119650), this paper provides direct evidence to visualize the root cause of dislocation channel broadening in additively manufactured (AM) 316L stainless steel (SS) after hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and compared to the wrought 316L SS. Radiation-induced defects were observed to pin the dislocation significantly, compared to the unirradiated condition, resulting in discontinued and segmented motion and constrained plastic flow through the dislocation channel. The distribution of radiation-induced defects in HIP AM 316L SS (smaller and denser defects) promoted more frequent out-of-plane cross-slip or double cross-slip, a key mechanism to form boarder dislocation channels than wrought counterpart.
本文首次通过原位应变和透射电镜辐射实验揭示了位错通道展宽过程中的位错动力学。研究了辐射缺陷的分布(主要是密度和尺寸)如何影响位错通道的发展。作为我们之前工作的后续研究(DOI:(10.1016/j.a actamat.2024.119650),本文提供了直接证据,可视化了增材制造(AM) 316L不锈钢(SS)在热等静压(HIP)后位错通道扩大的根本原因,并与变形的316L不锈钢(SS)进行了比较。与未辐照条件相比,观察到辐射引起的缺陷明显地钉住了位错,导致了中断和分割的运动,并限制了通过位错通道的塑性流动。与变形缺陷相比,辐射缺陷在HIP AM 316L SS中的分布更小、密度更大,促进了更频繁的面外交叉滑移或双交叉滑移,这是形成边界位错通道的关键机制。
{"title":"In-situ observation of dislocation dynamics during dislocation channel broadening","authors":"Jingfan Yang , Wei-Ying Chen , Xiaoyuan Lou","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156364","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156364","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For the first time, this work revealed the dislocation dynamics during dislocation channel broadening through in-situ straining and radiation experiments in TEM. The study examines how the distribution of radiation-induced defects (mainly density and size) influences dislocation channel development. Serving as a follow-up study to our previous work (DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2024.119650), this paper provides direct evidence to visualize the root cause of dislocation channel broadening in additively manufactured (AM) 316L stainless steel (SS) after hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and compared to the wrought 316L SS. Radiation-induced defects were observed to pin the dislocation significantly, compared to the unirradiated condition, resulting in discontinued and segmented motion and constrained plastic flow through the dislocation channel. The distribution of radiation-induced defects in HIP AM 316L SS (smaller and denser defects) promoted more frequent out-of-plane cross-slip or double cross-slip, a key mechanism to form boarder dislocation channels than wrought counterpart.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"620 ","pages":"Article 156364"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156363
Chenghao Liu , Qing Li , Xuekui Qian , Saixiang Zhao , Jinbiao Bai , Jiakuan Chen , Yali Yang , Peng Song
The high-temperature steam oxidation behavior of Cr-coated Zr-4 alloys was investigated at 1200 °C under pure steam and lithiated steam (3500 ppm LiOH) conditions for up to 360 min to evaluate coating performance under accident-tolerant fuel cladding scenarios. Cr coatings with 15.6 μm thickness were deposited on Zr-4 substrates using multi-arc ion plating technology. Microstructural characterization using SEM, XRD, EDS, and EPMA revealed significant differences in oxidation mechanisms between the two environments. In pure steam, protective Cr2O3 layers formed with excellent substrate protection throughout the test duration, while LiOH-containing steam promoted dual-phase Cr2O3/Cr(OH)3 formation with accelerated degradation. The presence of LiOH induced Cr(OH)3 formation at oxide grain boundaries through Cr3+ + OH- reactions, creating fast diffusion pathways for corrosive species. Multi-layered structures (Cr2O3/Cr/ZrCr2/Zr substrate) developed with Zr-rich diffusion channels providing additional oxygen transport routes. XRD analysis confirmed substrate oxidation to ZrO2 after 180–360 min in LiOH conditions, indicating coating failure, while pure steam maintained substrate integrity. The study elucidates the detrimental effect of LiOH on Cr coating protective capability and provides mechanistic understanding for accident-tolerant fuel cladding design under realistic primary circuit chemistry conditions.
{"title":"LiOH-induced accelerated corrosion of Cr-coated Zr alloys: identification of Cr(OH)3 formation and enhanced degradation mechanisms at 1200°C","authors":"Chenghao Liu , Qing Li , Xuekui Qian , Saixiang Zhao , Jinbiao Bai , Jiakuan Chen , Yali Yang , Peng Song","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The high-temperature steam oxidation behavior of Cr-coated Zr-4 alloys was investigated at 1200 °C under pure steam and lithiated steam (3500 ppm LiOH) conditions for up to 360 min to evaluate coating performance under accident-tolerant fuel cladding scenarios. Cr coatings with 15.6 μm thickness were deposited on Zr-4 substrates using multi-arc ion plating technology. Microstructural characterization using SEM, XRD, EDS, and EPMA revealed significant differences in oxidation mechanisms between the two environments. In pure steam, protective Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> layers formed with excellent substrate protection throughout the test duration, while LiOH-containing steam promoted dual-phase Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Cr(OH)<sub>3</sub> formation with accelerated degradation. The presence of LiOH induced Cr(OH)<sub>3</sub> formation at oxide grain boundaries through Cr<sup>3+</sup> + OH<sup>-</sup> reactions, creating fast diffusion pathways for corrosive species. Multi-layered structures (Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Cr/ZrCr<sub>2</sub>/Zr substrate) developed with Zr-rich diffusion channels providing additional oxygen transport routes. XRD analysis confirmed substrate oxidation to ZrO<sub>2</sub> after 180–360 min in LiOH conditions, indicating coating failure, while pure steam maintained substrate integrity. The study elucidates the detrimental effect of LiOH on Cr coating protective capability and provides mechanistic understanding for accident-tolerant fuel cladding design under realistic primary circuit chemistry conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"620 ","pages":"Article 156363"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156362
Safqut Sanwar , Mathew M. Swisher , Cheng Sun
In fusion reactors, plasmas-facing components undergo degradation due to displacement damage and injection of gas impurities. Significant amounts of hydrogen (H) and helium (He) impurities can be introduced into materials through plasma exposure and nuclear transmutation, and their synergistic effects lead to the formation of mixed He/H bubbles under irradiation, changing their hardening mechanisms. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) models were developed to study the interaction between ½<111> edge dislocations with mixed He/H-bubbles in W. The critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) that is required for dislocation breakaway increases with He/H-to-vacancy ratio at 600 K, indicating strong pinning effects of mixed He/H bubbles. However, as the temperature increases up to 1400 K, the mixed He/H bubbles become unstable as the H atoms are increasingly emitted from the mixed He/H bubbles and migrate into W matrix, which lowers bubble pressure and CRSS. Overall, these results highlight the synergistic effects of He and H on dislocation behavior in irradiated W during deformation.
{"title":"The interaction of edge dislocations with hydrogen-helium bubbles in tungsten","authors":"Safqut Sanwar , Mathew M. Swisher , Cheng Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In fusion reactors, plasmas-facing components undergo degradation due to displacement damage and injection of gas impurities. Significant amounts of hydrogen (H) and helium (He) impurities can be introduced into materials through plasma exposure and nuclear transmutation, and their synergistic effects lead to the formation of mixed He/H bubbles under irradiation, changing their hardening mechanisms. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) models were developed to study the interaction between ½<111> edge dislocations with mixed He/H-bubbles in W. The critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) that is required for dislocation breakaway increases with He/H-to-vacancy ratio at 600 K, indicating strong pinning effects of mixed He/H bubbles. However, as the temperature increases up to 1400 K, the mixed He/H bubbles become unstable as the H atoms are increasingly emitted from the mixed He/H bubbles and migrate into W matrix, which lowers bubble pressure and CRSS. Overall, these results highlight the synergistic effects of He and H on dislocation behavior in irradiated W during deformation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"620 ","pages":"Article 156362"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-03DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156361
C.R. Zu , S.Y. Dai , J.Y. Chen , K.R. Yang , X.H. Li , W.F. Liu , S.G. Liu , V. Shymanski
Fiber-like nanostructures called “fuzz” can form on a tungsten (W) surface under the irradiation of helium (He) ions. Experiments conducted on the Large Power-Materials Irradiation Experimental System (LP-MIES) have demonstrated that the thickness of the fuzz presents an upward tendency as the surface temperature increases. However, when the surface temperature continues to increase, the thickness will decline instead. To study this phenomenon, dedicated numerical modellings of W fuzz growth at diverse surface temperatures have been performed using the SURO-FUZZ code. The newly incorporated pseudo-potential model into SURO-FUZZ aims to describe the annealing process of fuzzy nanofibers, which further enables us to explore the effects of elevated surface temperature on the growth and annealing of W fuzz. The simulation results concerning the growth thickness of W fuzz are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data obtained from LP-MIES. In order to save the computational resource, an analytical formula regarding the growth of W fuzz under varying surface temperatures has been proposed by leveraging the growth and annealing rates modelled by SURO-FUZZ. This analytical formula takes into account explicitly the suppression of fuzz thickness driven by annealing, which gives a reasonable agreement with the LP-MIES measurements at high fluences. Therefore, when contrasted with the modellings of SURO-FUZZ, the analytical formula provides a valuable means to predict the growth of W fuzz under long-term irradiation.
{"title":"Numerical and analytical studies on tungsten fuzz growth under elevated surface temperatures","authors":"C.R. Zu , S.Y. Dai , J.Y. Chen , K.R. Yang , X.H. Li , W.F. Liu , S.G. Liu , V. Shymanski","doi":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fiber-like nanostructures called “fuzz” can form on a tungsten (W) surface under the irradiation of helium (He) ions. Experiments conducted on the Large Power-Materials Irradiation Experimental System (LP-MIES) have demonstrated that the thickness of the fuzz presents an upward tendency as the surface temperature increases. However, when the surface temperature continues to increase, the thickness will decline instead. To study this phenomenon, dedicated numerical modellings of W fuzz growth at diverse surface temperatures have been performed using the SURO-FUZZ code. The newly incorporated pseudo-potential model into SURO-FUZZ aims to describe the annealing process of fuzzy nanofibers, which further enables us to explore the effects of elevated surface temperature on the growth and annealing of W fuzz. The simulation results concerning the growth thickness of W fuzz are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data obtained from LP-MIES. In order to save the computational resource, an analytical formula regarding the growth of W fuzz under varying surface temperatures has been proposed by leveraging the growth and annealing rates modelled by SURO-FUZZ. This analytical formula takes into account explicitly the suppression of fuzz thickness driven by annealing, which gives a reasonable agreement with the LP-MIES measurements at high fluences. Therefore, when contrasted with the modellings of SURO-FUZZ, the analytical formula provides a valuable means to predict the growth of W fuzz under long-term irradiation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":373,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Materials","volume":"620 ","pages":"Article 156361"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}