ZrO₂ Ceramic Composite Added with MgAl₂O₄: Thermal Shock Resistance and Corrosion Resistance in Molten Uranium

Abstract:

A kind of ceramic composite consisted of Mg-Y co-doped ZrO₂ and MgAl₂O₄ was prepared as candidate material to replace the high destiny graphite crucible which was often used in nuclear industry. When the addition of MgAl₂O₄ was 7 wt%, samples with good thermal shock resistance were obtained. The obtained samples were tested up to 12 h in molten uranium, and no apparent cracks were found on the corrosion surface. Meanwhile, the corrosion rate decreased significantly from 30 mg·cm^-2·h^-1 to 3 mg·cm^-2·h^-1 as the corrosion time prolonged from 2 h to 12 h due to the formation of a protection layer consisted of UO₂, Al₃Zr₂ and ZrC during the uranium corrosion test. These results suggested that the ceramic composite prepared in this study owned both good corrosion resistance to the molten uranium and thermal shock resistance at high temperatures,so it’s a high potential material to replace the high density graphite crucible in nuclear industry.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 697)
• Pages: 675-679
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.697.675
• Online since: July 2016
• Authors: Nian Yu, Tong Zhang, Shu Cai*, Ding Ding Wang, Li Ping Luo
• Keywords: MgAl₂O₄, Thermal Shock Resistance, Uranium Corrosion, Zro₂

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