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arXiv · 1402.7278

Determination of Gd concentration profile in UO2-Gd2O3 fuel pellets

D. Tobia·E. L. Winkler·J. Milano·A. Butera·R. Kempf·L. Bianchi·F. Kaufmann
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Abstract

A transversal mapping of the Gd concentration was measured in UO2-Gd2O3 nuclear fuel pellets by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). The quantification was made from the comparison with a Gd2O3 reference sample. The nominal concentration in the pellets is UO2: 7.5 % Gd2O3. A concentration gradient was found, which indicates that the Gd2O3 amount diminishes towards the edges of the pellets. The concentration varies from (9.3 +/- 0.5)% in the center to (5.8 +/- 0.3)% in one of the edges. The method was found to be particularly suitable for the precise mapping of the distribution of Gd3+ ions in the UO2 matrix.

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D. Tobia, E. L. Winkler, J. Milano, A. Butera, R. Kempf, L. Bianchi, F. Kaufmann. 2014-02-28. Determination of Gd concentration profile in UO2-Gd2O3 fuel pellets. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.03.054

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