Coated ZrN sphere-UO2 composites as surrogates for UN-UO2 accident tolerant fuels

• Coated ZrN sphere-UO 2 as surrogates for UN-UO accident tolerant fuel composites. Spheres coated with Mo or W nanopowders by developed processes and CVD. Use of spark plasma sintering to fabricate the composites at 1773 K 80 MPa. Both coating methods provide dense layers W. can protect nitride against interactions UO . Uranium (UN) spheres embedded in uranium dioxide (UO ) matrix is considered an innovative (ATF). However, interaction between UN restricts applicability such composite light water reactors. A possibility limit this separate two materials a diffusion barrier that has high melting point, thermal conductivity, reasonably low neutron cross-section. Recent density functional theory calculations experimental results on interface UN-X-UO systems (X = V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W) concluded are promising candidates. In work, we develop study different spheres, used surrogate material spheres: first, using (wet binder); second, chemical vapour deposition (CVD) ZrN-UO containing 15 wt% were consolidated (1773 K, MPa) characterised SEM/FIB-EDS EBSD. The show without Wet binder provided about 20 µm 65 µm, respectively, while CVD 12 3 respectively.