Relationship between changes in the crystal lattice strain and thermal conductivity of high burnup UO2 pellets

Two kinds of disk-shaped UO2 samples (4 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness) were irradiated in a test reactor up to about 60 and 130 GWd/t, respectively. The microstructures of the samples were investigated by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy/ electron probe micro-analysis (SEM/EPMA) and micro-X-ray diffractometry. The measured lattice parameters tended to be considerably smaller than the reported values, and the typical cauliflower structure which is often observed in high burnup fuel pellet is hardly seen in these samples. Thermal diffusivities of the samples were also measured by using a laser flash method, and their thermal conductivities were evaluated by multiplying the heat capacity of unirradiated UO2 and sample densities. While the thermal conductivities of sample 2 showed recovery after being annealed at 1500 K, those of sample 4 were not clearly observed even after being annealed at 1500 K. These trends suggest that the amount of accumulated irradiation-induced defects depends on the irradiation condition of each sample. From the comparison of the changes in the lattice parameter and strain energy density before and after the thermal diffusivity measurements, it is likely that the thermal conductivity recovery in the temperature region from 1200 to 1500 K is related to the migration of dislocation.