Out-of-pile simulation test of fuel-cladding interaction of LMFBR

Chemical vapor transport of the components of a LMFBR fuel cladding was experimentally studied by use of an irradiated CsI vapor atmosphere. In this work, cesium metal vapor was introduced into the CsI vapor atmosphere in order to simulate the in-reactor condition better. The introduction of CsI vapor drastically reduced the vapor transport rate of SUS304 components. That behavior was well explained from a newly-devised reaction model. This type of reaction mode can be possible to be working in a reactor during irradiation. Otherwise, a possibility of the occurrence of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of a SUS316 cladding was tested preliminarily by use of the split-ring method in an atmosphere of iodine vapor. (author)