Recycling of Zircaloy Machining Chips by VAR Remelting and Powder Metallurgy Techniques

Abstract:

In the fabrication of nuclear reactor core parts, machining chips of Zircaloy are generated. These alloys are strategic for nuclear technology and cannot be discarded. In the present work are presented two methods for recycling of Zircaloy chips. One of the methods is by melting in VAR furnace and the other by powder metallurgy method. By this method the Zircaloy was submitted to hydriding process and milled in a high-energy ball mill. The powder was cold isostatically pressed and vacuum sintered. The elemental composition of the samples obtained by both ways was determined by XRF and compared to the specifications. The phase composition was determined by XRD. The microstructures resulting of both processing methods, before and after rolling were characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The good results of the powder metallurgy method suggest the possibility of producing small parts, like cladding cap-ends, using near net shape sintering.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 727-728)
• Pages: 356-361
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.727-728.356
• Online since: August 2012
• Authors: Hidetoshi Takiishi, J.H. Duvaizen, I.M. Sato, J.L. Rossi, L.A.T. Pereira, Luís Gallego Martinez
• Keywords: Hydriding, Recycling, Sintering, Zircaloy

References

[1] A.E. Bohe, J.J. Andrade Gamboa, E.M. Lopasso and D.M. Pasquevich, J. Mater. Sci. 31, (1996), p.3469.

[2] P. Mukherjee, P. Barat, S.K. Bandyopadhyay, P. Sen, S.K. Chattopadhyay, S.K.C. Jee, A.K. Meikap and M.K. Mitra, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A 31, (2010), p.2405.

[3] M. Steinbrück, Journal of Nuclear Materials, 334, b (2004), p.58.

[4] J.H. Schemel, Manual on Zirconium and Hafnium, ASTM Special Technical Publication, 1997), p.639.

[5] K. Natesan, W.K. Soppet, NUREG/CR–6851, ANL-04/14, Argonne National Laboratory (USA), (2004).

[6] Y. Kim, D.R. Olander, Journal of Korean Nuclear Society V. 25, Number 4, (1993).

[7] R.W. Dayton, C.M. Allen and W.U. Eberts, United States Atomic Energy Commission AECD-3499, (1952).

[8] L.A.T. Pereira; C.S. Mucsi, H.P.S. Corrêa, M.T.D. Orlando, I.M. Sato, J.L. Rossi and L.G. Martinez, 19º CBECiMat - Congresso Brasileiro de Engenharia e Ciência dos Materiais, Campos de Jordão - SP, (2010).

[9] K. Mimura, S.W. Lee and M. Isshiki, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 221, (1995), p.267.

[10] B. Lustman, F. Kerze Jr., The Metallurgy of Zirconium, National Nuclear Energy Series, Div. 7, V. 4. McGraw-Hill, New York, (1955).

[11] I.M. Sato, L.A.T. Pereira, M.A. Scapin, M.B. Cotrim, C.S. Mucsi, J.L. Rossi and L.G. Martinez, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry (in print 2011).