CX-270005: Advanced Surface Plasma Nitriding for Development of Corrosion Resistant and Accident Tolerant Fuel Cladding

Categorical Exclusion Determination

Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance

June 29, 2015
Estimated Read Time   min

Texas A&M proposes to develop a hollow cathode plasma nitriding technique.  Starting with alloys Grade 92, Alloy 709, HT-9, T-91, and Zircaloy 2/4, the team will apply an advanced surface plasmanitriding technique to convert alloy surface layers into nitride layers for better structural integrity and compatibility with both coolants and nuclear fuels.  Both treated and untreated samples will be irradiated by using Fe self-ions or dual beams of Fe ions and He ions, up to extreme damage levels and various temperatures.