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Shanahan, Kirk L.

Publications and source records attributed to Shanahan, Kirk L..

SR19016 - Characterization of AM Materials for SRTE Service

This project addresses several issues and challenges for the use of AM produced components in the tritium facility. It will evaluate the effect of low level hydrogen and tritium exposure on the mechanical and chemical characteristics of Arcam A2X Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion Produced (EPBF) Ti-6AI-4V by printing tensile samples and testing them in the as printed, machined, and hydrogen exposed conditions. Hydrogen uptake will be measured using an Eltra Hydrogen-Oxygen- Nitrogen analyzer. Hydride response will be measured using a Seiffert's apparatus and determining the effects of various surface treatments on the hydriding susceptibility. Tools, fixtures, and other objects will be deigned and printed for use in the AM lab and tritum facility and for other groups that support the tiritum mission.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Fabricating and Testing Additively Manufactured Components for Tritium Service Consideration

This SRTE PDRD sponsored project produced test articles, tooling, and training articles for evaluation. In addition, the hydrogen compatibility of the alloys that can be readily produced by the Arcam A2X was tested. During the evaluation it was determined that the mechanical properties were more sensitive to build plate location than hydrogen exposure. Hydrogen pressure – volume-temperature experiments showed that the as-fabricated samples did not absorb hydrogen readily, but activated samples did.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Estimation of the Tritium Isotope Effect inthe SAS Compressor Bed 1 Material (LANA10)

A recent report presented a method to estimate the SAS Compressor Bed 1 (SAS CB1) loading level, in Q/M units, based on measured equilibrium pressure and temperature where the material was clearly loaded into the β-phase. This method requires the use of the equilibrium desorption isotherm plateau pressure, but no data exists to specify that value at this time. This report details a previously unreported investigation into tritium isotope effects on plateau pressure of a closely related material, herein called LANA05, conducted in the 1989-to-1993 time frame by then-SRL (Savannah River Laboratory) researchers. Data from that investigation is used to estimate the tritium isotope effect on plateau pressure in the SAS CB1 virgin LANA10 material by constructing a tritium van’t Hoff plot for LANA10 that mimics the isotope behavior in LANA05.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characterization of the β-Phrase Region of the SAS Compressor Bed 1 Material (LANA10)

Isotherm data have been acquired and analyzed on the SAS Compressor Bed 1 material in order to define a method to set the initial bed Q/M value when freshly filled after inventory. β-phase data from eleven protium and two deuterium isotherms have been combined to determine a method for calculating the bed Q/M value given a β-phase equilibrium pressure at temperature. This method is a two-step method; first, the plateau pressure is calculated based on the isotope used and the temperature of the bed, and second, the measured equilibrium pressure is divided by the computed plateau pressure to obtain the reduced pressure, which is then inserted into the β-phase equation to calculate the bed’s Q/M value. Error sources and effects are discussed, with the conclusion that the ‘true’ reduced isotherm has been determined in the β-phase which will allow virgin bed inventory to be determined to ~3-4% accuracy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗