Carbides for Future Fission Environments (CAFFE)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Wady P
(2016)
Accelerated radiation damage test facility using a 5 MV tandem ion accelerator
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Ward J
(2018)
Corrosion performance of Ti3SiC2, Ti3AlC2, Ti2AlC and Cr2AlC MAX phases in simulated primary water conditions
in Corrosion Science
Ward J
(2018)
Crystallographic evolution of MAX phases in proton irradiating environments
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Lunt D
(2023)
Detecting irradiation-induced strain localisation on the microstructural level by means of high-resolution digital image correlation
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Ward J
(2019)
Influence of proton-irradiation temperature on the damage accumulation in Ti3SiC2 and Ti3AlC2
in Scripta Materialia
Schofield J
(2016)
Radiolytic hydrogen generation at silicon carbide-water interfaces
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Bowden D
(2020)
The stability of irradiation-induced defects in Zr3AlC2, Nb4AlC3 and (Zr0.5,Ti0.5)3AlC2 MAX phase-based ceramics
in Acta Materialia
Description | By applying proton irradiation to the MAX Phase materials studied, we have been able to investigate their irradiation resistance, and thereby suitability for use in reactor envronments. Initial X-ray diffraction measurements have shown that significant changes in the lattice parameters of these materials occur when irradiated at 350C, even at relatively low damage levels. For some compositions this expansion becomes negligible when irradiation temperatures are increased to ~575C. This demonstrates the ability of some MAX Phases to "heal" irradiation damage. It also suggests that compositions studied up until now are unlikely to find use in applications where temperatures are below 400C. Autoclave testing has also shown that only a limited number of MAX phase compositions can survive PWR conditions, but may be well suited to some GEN IV applications. The work suggests that MAX phase compositions must be very carefully chosen for specific operating environments. By combining the experimental work with atomistic modelling studies, we have been able to propose mechanisms for the large lattice changes seen at lower temperature irradiations, we have also shown that different compositions show different sensitivity, which provides motivation for proposing new compositions that may even be useable in ATF applications. |
Exploitation Route | The results will be used to develop targeted MAX phase compositions specifically with lower irradiation sensitivity at operating temperatures I.e. ~350. By describing the icrradaiatio response of new compositions, other researchers will be able to build on this work to look at other applications for these materials. Work has already started to look at other applications, specifically for materials within Fusion. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Energy |
Description | The findings of this work has influenced the future strategy of the companies involved (including Westinghouse and Rolls Royce) with respect to choice of potential materials and manufacturing processes for accident tolerant fuel cladding (ATF) and other potential in-reactor applications. Specifically, the work has provided a deeper understanding of the potential operating window for these materials and therefore potential applications. While it has demonstrated that the compositions so far investigated are unlikely to be used in the original proposed application ( I.e. ATF coatings for Light water reactors), the mechanistic understanding provided allows tailor-made compositions to be developed and has also opened the potential for the m materials to be used in alternative applications, including new research into their use in Fusion and also electronics. Materials and results from the CAFFE programme have also fed into the the Il Trovatore Euratom programme. where the work has been built upon with a number of new collaborators. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Energy |
Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
Description | H2020 |
Amount | € 5,000,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 740415 - IL TROVATORE |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 04/2022 |
Description | CARAT - Collaboration for Advanced Research on Accident-tolerant Fuel |
Organisation | Paul Scherrer Institute |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Collaborator Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Impact | Regular exhange of results and presentations. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | CARAT - Collaboration for Advanced Research on Accident-tolerant Fuel |
Organisation | Penn State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Collaborator Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Impact | Regular exhange of results and presentations. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | CARAT - Collaboration for Advanced Research on Accident-tolerant Fuel |
Organisation | University of Tennessee |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Collaborator Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Impact | Regular exhange of results and presentations. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | CARAT - Collaboration for Advanced Research on Accident-tolerant Fuel |
Organisation | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Collaborator Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Impact | Regular exhange of results and presentations. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | CARAT - Collaboration for Advanced Research on Accident-tolerant Fuel |
Organisation | Westinghouse |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Collaborator Contribution | Attended anual meetings and exchanged results and expericence. |
Impact | Regular exhange of results and presentations. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Drexel |
Organisation | Drexel University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | PhD student spent time in lab of collaborators, provided raw materials, time and subsequent characterisation of the resulting materials. |
Collaborator Contribution | Hosting PhD student, sue of lab facilities and guidance to produce Novel materials. |
Impact | Production of new MAX Phase materials Contribution to PhD project Co-authored journal paper DOI: 10.1039/d0ra09761f |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | CARAT working group meetings |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Annual meeeting of researchers from academia and industry to discuss results and issues regarding research into Accident Tollerant Fuels |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016 |