CORROSION PERFORMANCE OF A GADOLINIUM CONTAINING STAINLESS STEEL

摘要

The National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program (NSNFP), located at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), coordinates and integrates national efforts in management and disposal of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-owned spent nuclear fuel (SNF). These management functions include using the DOE standardized canister for packaging, storage, treatment, transport, and disposal. Nuclear criticality control measures are needed in these canisters because of the enrichment and total quantity of fissile material in some types of the DOE SNF. This paper will describe the NSNFP's metallurgical development program and preliminary corrosion resistance characteristics of 316L austenitic stainless steel alloyed with varying levels of gadolinium (Gd). The 316L/Gd alloys were chosen for nuclear criticality control in the DOE standardized canister. This is because Gd and its isotopes have the best thermal neutron absorption cross sections, and the alloys are expected to be relatively insoluble to the water that they could be in contact with during long-term storage conditions. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of various alloys will be presented. These corrosion resistant, structural alloys can be used to fabricate components of SNF storage racks, storage canisters and internal structural baskets, and transportation cask internals.