Characterization by electron probe microanalysis, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy of a MOX fuel sintered from a freeze-granulated powder. Issue 15 (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simeon, Julie; Lebreton, Florent; Ramond, Laure; Martin, Philippe; Drouan, Doris; Sabathier, Catherine; Bernard-Granger, Guillaume
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Volume 42:Issue 15(2022)
• Page Start: 7237
• Page End: 7246
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Microstructure -- EPMA -- Raman spectroscopy, TEM -- Oxides -- MOX; Ceramic materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Matériaux céramiques -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Ceramic materials; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2022.08.056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-2219

Abstract

Abstract: The microstructure of a 98.7 % dense U0.856 Pu0.144 O1.993 sintered sample (average grain size around 1.5 µm) has been characterized by electron probe microanalysis, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Raman spectroscopy gives results comparable to electron probe microanalysis in terms of studying the spatial distribution of plutonium in a homogeneous sintered MOX fuel. The use of transmission electron microscopy allows additional characterizations of great interest for investigating the chemical homogeneity of sintered MOX fuels. At the scale of the elementary grains constituting the sintered polycrystal, a variation in the Pu/(U+Pu) content has been observed which can change typically from 0 to about 40 at% over a short distance (from 100 to 150 nm). Thereby, the thorough characterization of the microstructure of MOX fuels by transmission electron microscopy is a critical step to understand their genesis and to apprehend their dissolution properties with a view to their reprocessing.