Zirconia-rare Earth Oxide Phase Stability Program in Support of ACR-1000® Fuel Design

Abstract

The ACR-1000®¹ CANFLEX®²-ACR fuel bundle design is an evolution of the 43 element CANDU®³ 6 CANFLEX Mk-4 fuel bundle. The central element of the bundle contains burnable neutron absorbers (BNA) (Gd, Dy) in a stabilized (Y) zirconia matrix with no fissile material.

This neutron absorbing material is not part of the traditional CANDU® experience. One activity identified in fuel design verification is the phase stability of the cubic solid solution that results during sintering as part of pellet manufacture of this material. This paper provides and overview of AECL's program to investigate the phase stability of this new material in support of the design verification effort in this area.