Diffusion of Xe and Kr implanted at low concentrations in UO$_2$ as a function of temperature – An experimental study

M Gérardin (1, 2) , E Gilabert (3) , D Horlait (3) , M-F Barthe (4) , G Carlot (2)

1 GeoRessources
2 DEC - Département d'Etudes des Combustibles
3 LP2I - Bordeaux - Laboratoire de Physique des Deux Infinis Bordeaux
4 CEMHTI - Conditions Extrêmes et Matériaux : Haute Température et Irradiation

Fission gases production and release have a large impact on uranium dioxide fuel performance. To predict fuel properties in pile, a better understanding of the fission gas behaviour in uranium dioxide is needed. UO$_2$ samples were implanted with Xe or Kr at low doses to avoid trapping by irradiation defects and/or gas clusters. The release rates of Xe and Kr were studied at temperatures ranging up to 1400°C. Results show an excellent agreement with the substantial literature on xenon diffusion in irradiated UO$_2$.

Domaines: Physique Nucléaire Expérimentale [nucl-ex]

M Gérardin, E Gilabert, D Horlait, M-F Barthe, G Carlot. Diffusion of Xe and Kr implanted at low concentrations in UO$_2$ as a function of temperature – An experimental study. J.Nucl.Mater., 2023, 582, pp.154476. ⟨10.1016/j.jnucmat.2023.154476⟩. ⟨hal-04092091⟩