Advanced neutron absorbers for spent fuel applications

Neutron absorbers will play an important role in the long-term storage of certain types of enriched spent nuclear fuels. High neutron absorbing capability, long-term stability, and the capacity to stay with the fuel are important criteria in preventing critical conditions during possible waste package degradation in geological time frames. Gadolinium contained within a relatively insoluble compound or alloy is attractive from both a cost and a neutron absorbing standpoint. This paper addresses studies involving the inclusion of gadolinium in several alloy systems which have been processed to yield amorphous, nanocrystalline, or microcrystalline microstructures which provide good homogeneity and corrosion resistance