In Situ High-Temperature Synchrotron Diffraction Studies of (Fe,Cr,Al)O Spinels.

The modeling of a loss-of-coolant-accident scenario involving nuclear fuels with FeCrAl cladding materials in consideration to replace a Zircaloy requires knowledge of the thermodynamics of oxidized structures. At temperatures higher than 1500 °C, oxidation of FeCrAl alloys forms (Fe,Cr,Al)O spinels. In situ high-energy X-ray diffraction in a conical nozzle levitator installed at beamline 6-ID-D of the APS was used to study the structural evolution of the oxides as a function of the temperature.