Research and Development of Novel Materials for Accident Tolerant Fuel Cladding of Nuclear Reactors

The paper describes the challenges and worldwide scientific studies aimed for the manufacturing of the fuel elements claddings tolerant to a loss of coolant accidents (Fukushima NPP, March 2011, Japan) for water-cooled reactors. The main research results obtained at NSC KIPT on the development of materials for fuel element claddings, tolerant to accidents with loss of coolant, are given. The structure and properties of the developed vacuum-arc chromium coatings were investigated. It is shown, that these coatings can be used as protective element for existing fuel claddings, made of zirconium alloys, in light-water reactors of the PWR and BWR types. Alloyed SiC-based ceramic was developed to replace zirconium-based fuel claddings. It has been established that doping of 0.5 wt% Cr into SiC leads to an increase in the ability to resist the formation of cracks (crack resistance) by 25 – 30%. The effect of Cr alloying on the corrosion resistance of SiC ceramics under conditions, simulating the medium of the first circuit of the VVER-1000 reactor, is analyzed. It was established that doping of even a small amount of Cr leads to a slowdown in corrosion processes in SiC ceramics. In order to create new material for fuel elements claddings Fe-Cr-Al-based alloys with the doping of alloying elements (Y, Zr and Mo) were also developed and studied. Obtained alloys showed high mechanical properties and resistance to high-temperature oxidation.