Sintering trials of analogues of americium oxides for radioisotope power systems

E. J. Watkinson; R. M. Ambrosi; D. P. Kramer; H. R. Williams; M. J. Reece; K. Chen; M. J. Sarsfield; C. D. Barklay; H. Fenwick; D. P. Weston; K. Stephenson

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.04.028

Sintering trials of analogues of americium oxides for radioisotope power systems

E. J. Watkinson^*, R. M. Ambrosi, D. P. Kramer, H. R. Williams, M. J. Reece, K. Chen, M. J. Sarsfield, C. D. Barklay, H. Fenwick, D. P. Weston, K. Stephenson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Metallurgy and Materials

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

European Space Agency radioisotope power systems will use americium oxide as the heat source in pellet or disc form. The oxide form is yet to be decided. Sintering trials with CeO₂ and Nd₂O₃ as analogues for AmO₂ and Am₂O₃ were conducted. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) and cold-press-and-sinter methods were compared. Different sintering parameters and particle characteristics were investigated with commercial and synthesised powders. The synthesised powders contained lath-shaped particles, and batches with different particle sizes and specific surface areas were made and sintered. This is the first study in the public literature to report the sintering of lath-shaped CeO₂. The targeted density range of 85–90% was met using both techniques. No ball-milling was required. Cold-pressing-and-sintering CeO₂ produced intact discs. Large cracking was prevalent in the SPS discs. Some powders pressed more successfully than others. Powder morphology had a significant effect on the result but it was not possible to fully quantify the effects in this study. The cold-pressed-and-sintered CeO₂ discs had comparable Vickers hardness values to a nuclear ceramic (UO₂). The hardness values were greater than the spark plasma sintered CeO₂ sample. Efforts to SPS near-net shaped pellets using CeO₂ and Nd₂O₃ are reported. A follow on investigation was conducted to assess how the 85–90% T.D. target could be achieved. The aspect ratio impacts the sintering parameters and behaviour. The Vickers hardness of Nd₂O₃ is reported for the first time and compared to the results of sintered CeO₂.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	18-30
Number of pages	13
Journal	Journal of Nuclear Materials
Volume	491
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.04.028
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2017

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the funding provided by the Science and Technology Facilities Council [ST/K/502121/1] and the European Space Agency [TEC-EPS/2009/531, E903-001EP]. The work carried out in collaboration with the University of Dayton Research Institute is part of the Implementing Arrangement between the University of Dayton and the University of Leicester. The authors would like to acknowledge the advice and assistant provided by V. Patel and G. Clark from the Department of Engineering (University of Leicester) for SPS disc/pellet mounting.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
General Materials Science
Nuclear Energy and Engineering

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10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.04.028

Cite this

@article{c36d6d1eaa7846dd98f9df3c9c017277,

title = "Sintering trials of analogues of americium oxides for radioisotope power systems",

abstract = "European Space Agency radioisotope power systems will use americium oxide as the heat source in pellet or disc form. The oxide form is yet to be decided. Sintering trials with CeO2 and Nd2O3 as analogues for AmO2 and Am2O3 were conducted. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) and cold-press-and-sinter methods were compared. Different sintering parameters and particle characteristics were investigated with commercial and synthesised powders. The synthesised powders contained lath-shaped particles, and batches with different particle sizes and specific surface areas were made and sintered. This is the first study in the public literature to report the sintering of lath-shaped CeO2. The targeted density range of 85–90% was met using both techniques. No ball-milling was required. Cold-pressing-and-sintering CeO2 produced intact discs. Large cracking was prevalent in the SPS discs. Some powders pressed more successfully than others. Powder morphology had a significant effect on the result but it was not possible to fully quantify the effects in this study. The cold-pressed-and-sintered CeO2 discs had comparable Vickers hardness values to a nuclear ceramic (UO2). The hardness values were greater than the spark plasma sintered CeO2 sample. Efforts to SPS near-net shaped pellets using CeO2 and Nd2O3 are reported. A follow on investigation was conducted to assess how the 85–90% T.D. target could be achieved. The aspect ratio impacts the sintering parameters and behaviour. The Vickers hardness of Nd2O3 is reported for the first time and compared to the results of sintered CeO2.",

author = "Watkinson, {E. J.} and Ambrosi, {R. M.} and Kramer, {D. P.} and Williams, {H. R.} and Reece, {M. J.} and K. Chen and Sarsfield, {M. J.} and Barklay, {C. D.} and H. Fenwick and Weston, {D. P.} and K. Stephenson",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the funding provided by the Science and Technology Facilities Council [ST/K/502121/1] and the European Space Agency [TEC-EPS/2009/531, E903-001EP]. The work carried out in collaboration with the University of Dayton Research Institute is part of the Implementing Arrangement between the University of Dayton and the University of Leicester. The authors would like to acknowledge the advice and assistant provided by V. Patel and G. Clark from the Department of Engineering (University of Leicester) for SPS disc/pellet mounting. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2017",

month = aug,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.04.028",

language = "English",

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T1 - Sintering trials of analogues of americium oxides for radioisotope power systems

AU - Watkinson, E. J.

AU - Ambrosi, R. M.

AU - Kramer, D. P.

AU - Williams, H. R.

AU - Reece, M. J.

AU - Chen, K.

AU - Sarsfield, M. J.

AU - Barklay, C. D.

AU - Fenwick, H.

AU - Weston, D. P.

AU - Stephenson, K.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the funding provided by the Science and Technology Facilities Council [ST/K/502121/1] and the European Space Agency [TEC-EPS/2009/531, E903-001EP]. The work carried out in collaboration with the University of Dayton Research Institute is part of the Implementing Arrangement between the University of Dayton and the University of Leicester. The authors would like to acknowledge the advice and assistant provided by V. Patel and G. Clark from the Department of Engineering (University of Leicester) for SPS disc/pellet mounting. Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2017/8/1

Y1 - 2017/8/1

N2 - European Space Agency radioisotope power systems will use americium oxide as the heat source in pellet or disc form. The oxide form is yet to be decided. Sintering trials with CeO2 and Nd2O3 as analogues for AmO2 and Am2O3 were conducted. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) and cold-press-and-sinter methods were compared. Different sintering parameters and particle characteristics were investigated with commercial and synthesised powders. The synthesised powders contained lath-shaped particles, and batches with different particle sizes and specific surface areas were made and sintered. This is the first study in the public literature to report the sintering of lath-shaped CeO2. The targeted density range of 85–90% was met using both techniques. No ball-milling was required. Cold-pressing-and-sintering CeO2 produced intact discs. Large cracking was prevalent in the SPS discs. Some powders pressed more successfully than others. Powder morphology had a significant effect on the result but it was not possible to fully quantify the effects in this study. The cold-pressed-and-sintered CeO2 discs had comparable Vickers hardness values to a nuclear ceramic (UO2). The hardness values were greater than the spark plasma sintered CeO2 sample. Efforts to SPS near-net shaped pellets using CeO2 and Nd2O3 are reported. A follow on investigation was conducted to assess how the 85–90% T.D. target could be achieved. The aspect ratio impacts the sintering parameters and behaviour. The Vickers hardness of Nd2O3 is reported for the first time and compared to the results of sintered CeO2.

AB - European Space Agency radioisotope power systems will use americium oxide as the heat source in pellet or disc form. The oxide form is yet to be decided. Sintering trials with CeO2 and Nd2O3 as analogues for AmO2 and Am2O3 were conducted. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) and cold-press-and-sinter methods were compared. Different sintering parameters and particle characteristics were investigated with commercial and synthesised powders. The synthesised powders contained lath-shaped particles, and batches with different particle sizes and specific surface areas were made and sintered. This is the first study in the public literature to report the sintering of lath-shaped CeO2. The targeted density range of 85–90% was met using both techniques. No ball-milling was required. Cold-pressing-and-sintering CeO2 produced intact discs. Large cracking was prevalent in the SPS discs. Some powders pressed more successfully than others. Powder morphology had a significant effect on the result but it was not possible to fully quantify the effects in this study. The cold-pressed-and-sintered CeO2 discs had comparable Vickers hardness values to a nuclear ceramic (UO2). The hardness values were greater than the spark plasma sintered CeO2 sample. Efforts to SPS near-net shaped pellets using CeO2 and Nd2O3 are reported. A follow on investigation was conducted to assess how the 85–90% T.D. target could be achieved. The aspect ratio impacts the sintering parameters and behaviour. The Vickers hardness of Nd2O3 is reported for the first time and compared to the results of sintered CeO2.

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DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.04.028

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Sintering trials of analogues of americium oxides for radioisotope power systems

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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