Chemical interaction of Y2O3 coating with U-Zr-Nd metallic fuel during casting

The interaction between molten metals and ceramic coating materials was studied to minimize fuel material loss and develop a reusable crucible for fuel melts. U-Zr-Nd alloy and pure Nd were used as metal melts while the substrate pellets were Y 2 O 3 -plasma-spray-coated graphite. The metals were melted using the sessile drop test method on Y 2 O 3 -coated graphite pellets. All Y 2 O 3 coating layers of the specimens detached from the graphite specimens and attached to the molten metals because of their reactivity. Furthermore, a microstructural analysis of the specimens was performed after droplet testing. The results revealed that (Nd,Y) 2 O 3 compounds were formed by the reaction between Nd and Y 2 O 3 coating during the U-Zr-Nd fuel melting on the substrate.