Oxidation and passivation of U(AlxSi1-x)3 alloy at elevated temperatures

S. Cohen; M. Matmor; M. Vaknin; G. Rafailov; O. Appel; L. Shelly; N. Shamir; S. Zalkind

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152028

Oxidation and passivation of U(Al_xSi_1-x)₃ alloy at elevated temperatures

S. Cohen
, M. Matmor
, M. Vaknin
, G. Rafailov
, O. Appel
, L. Shelly
, N. Shamir
, S. Zalkind

Department of Materials Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The surface composition of U(Al_xSi_1-x)₃ alloy (x = 0.57) and its interactions with oxygen, at elevated temperatures, were studied, utilizing Auger electron spectroscopy, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and direct recoil spectrometry. Heating the alloy in ultra-high vacuum, results in aluminum (and some silicon) segregation to the surface, forming, above 700 K, a ∼0.6 nm self-assembly capping layer. Exposing the surface alloy to oxygen, at temperatures up to 500 K, causes oxidation of the uranium and the aluminum components, while silicon is only slightly oxidized. Above 600 K, only the aluminum segregated overlayer is oxidized, forming a passivation layer that inhibits further oxidation of the alloy.

Original language	English
Article number	152028
Journal	Journal of Nuclear Materials
Volume	531
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152028
State	Published - 1 Apr 2020

Keywords

Aluminum
Oxygen
Segregation
Silicon
Surface oxidation
Uranium alloys

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
General Materials Science
Nuclear Energy and Engineering

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152028

Cite this

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title = "Oxidation and passivation of U(AlxSi1-x)3 alloy at elevated temperatures",

abstract = "The surface composition of U(AlxSi1-x)3 alloy (x = 0.57) and its interactions with oxygen, at elevated temperatures, were studied, utilizing Auger electron spectroscopy, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and direct recoil spectrometry. Heating the alloy in ultra-high vacuum, results in aluminum (and some silicon) segregation to the surface, forming, above 700 K, a ∼0.6 nm self-assembly capping layer. Exposing the surface alloy to oxygen, at temperatures up to 500 K, causes oxidation of the uranium and the aluminum components, while silicon is only slightly oxidized. Above 600 K, only the aluminum segregated overlayer is oxidized, forming a passivation layer that inhibits further oxidation of the alloy.",

keywords = "Aluminum, Oxygen, Segregation, Silicon, Surface oxidation, Uranium alloys",

author = "S. Cohen and M. Matmor and M. Vaknin and G. Rafailov and O. Appel and L. Shelly and N. Shamir and S. Zalkind",

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T1 - Oxidation and passivation of U(AlxSi1-x)3 alloy at elevated temperatures

AU - Cohen, S.

AU - Matmor, M.

AU - Vaknin, M.

AU - Rafailov, G.

AU - Appel, O.

AU - Shelly, L.

AU - Shamir, N.

AU - Zalkind, S.

PY - 2020/4/1

Y1 - 2020/4/1

N2 - The surface composition of U(AlxSi1-x)3 alloy (x = 0.57) and its interactions with oxygen, at elevated temperatures, were studied, utilizing Auger electron spectroscopy, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and direct recoil spectrometry. Heating the alloy in ultra-high vacuum, results in aluminum (and some silicon) segregation to the surface, forming, above 700 K, a ∼0.6 nm self-assembly capping layer. Exposing the surface alloy to oxygen, at temperatures up to 500 K, causes oxidation of the uranium and the aluminum components, while silicon is only slightly oxidized. Above 600 K, only the aluminum segregated overlayer is oxidized, forming a passivation layer that inhibits further oxidation of the alloy.

AB - The surface composition of U(AlxSi1-x)3 alloy (x = 0.57) and its interactions with oxygen, at elevated temperatures, were studied, utilizing Auger electron spectroscopy, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and direct recoil spectrometry. Heating the alloy in ultra-high vacuum, results in aluminum (and some silicon) segregation to the surface, forming, above 700 K, a ∼0.6 nm self-assembly capping layer. Exposing the surface alloy to oxygen, at temperatures up to 500 K, causes oxidation of the uranium and the aluminum components, while silicon is only slightly oxidized. Above 600 K, only the aluminum segregated overlayer is oxidized, forming a passivation layer that inhibits further oxidation of the alloy.

KW - Aluminum

KW - Oxygen

KW - Segregation

KW - Silicon

KW - Surface oxidation

KW - Uranium alloys

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85078715096

U2 - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152028

DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152028

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