Thermal Properties of Hfn-Mow Surrogate Cermet Fuel for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

Abstract

The thermal properties of MoW-HfN, a surrogate cermet for MoW-UN nuclear thermal propulsion fuel, were characterized over a wide range of elevated temperatures. Thermal diffusivity, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and heat capacity were measured. Optical and scanning electron microscopy were performed to characterize the microstructure and draw structure–property correlations. The thermal diffusivity was obtained using the laser flash method. Diffusivity values ranged from about 0.18 cm2/s at 200°C to 0.15 cm2/s at 1800°C. The CTE was measured using push-rod dilatometry up to 1600°C, giving values between 6.0 and 9.0 μm/m. A scientific rationalization of the effective material properties is made using the rule-of-mixtures and other effective properties models.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Second Department

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Comments

Marshall Space Flight Center, Grant 80NSSC20M0172

Keywords and Phrases

Cermets; Nitrides; Nuclear Fuel; Nuclear Thermal Propulsion; Thermal Properties

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1551-2916; 0002-7820

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2023 Wiley, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Mar 2023

Link to Full Text

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