Thermodynamics and phase equilibria of the iron-uranium system

Interest in metallic fuel for nuclear reactors has prompted studies of the thermodynamics and phase equilibria of several binary and ternary fuel alloys. Of particular interest are systems involving uranium-plutonium-zirconium alloy fuel and components of the stainless steel cladding. An experimental study and phase diagram calculation of the iron-uranium alloy system were performed. Thermodynamic functions for the existing phases were derived and a phase diagram was calculated that agrees reasonably with published diagrams. (orig.)