Fig. 1: Imaging the cross-section of spent fuel.
From: Distribution of metallic fission-product particles in the cladding liner of spent nuclear fuel
(a) SEM-BSE images montaged across the entire spent fuel section showing the cladding and fuel thickness (see the SI for additional images (Supplementary Fig. 2) of the ATM-109 fuel). The few black lines on the micrograph of the fuel are artifacts from carbon coating the sample. (b) SEM image of the spent fuel/ZrO2/Zr-liner interface region showing “jets” of uranium penetrating the ZrO2 layer. (c) Higher magnification of Fig. 1b at the interface between the cladding liner and the fuel. Noble metal phase particles are observable and show up as bright specs in the image. (d) EDS spectral image mapping of the liner showing the contrast between Zr and regions of U intrusion into the FCI. Figure 1c reprinted from Journal of Nuclear Materials, 521, Lach, T. G. et al., Fission recoil-induced microstructural evolution of the fuel-cladding interface [FCI] in high burnup BWR fuel, 120-125, Copyright (2019), with permission from Elsevier.
