Crystallite Size Measurement of Uranium Oxide Fuel Powders by Neutron Diffraction

The nano-scale crystallite sizes of uranium oxide powders in simulated spent fuel were measured by the neutron diffraction line broadening method in order to analyze the sintering behavior of the dry process fuel. The mixed $UO_2$ and fission product powders were dry-milled in an attritor for 30, 60, and 120 min. The diffraction patterns of the powders were obtained by using the high resolution powder diffractometer in the HANARO research reactor. Diffraction line broadening due to crystallite size was measured using various techniques such as the Stokes' deconvolution, profile fitting methods using Cauchy function, Gaussian function, and Voigt function, and the Warren-Averbach method. The non-uniform strain, stacking fault and twin probability were measured using the information from the diffraction pattern. The realistic crystallite size could be obtained after separation of the contribution from the non-uniform strain, stacking fault and twin.

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