Iron-based composition for fuel element

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include fuel assemblies, fuel element, cladding material, methods of making a fuel element, and methods of using same.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A composition comprising:
 (Fe) a (Cr) b (M) c ;   wherein
 a, b, and c are each a number greater than zero representing a weight percentage; 
 M is at least one transition metal element; 
 b is between 11 and 12; 
 c is between about 0.25 and about 0.9; and 
 the composition further includes at least N at between about 0.01 wt % and about 0.04 wt %. 
   
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein M is at least one of Mo, Ni, Mn, W, and V. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 41 , further including at least one non-metal element including at least one element chosen from Si, S, and P. 
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 41 , further including copper. 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 41 , wherein N is between about 0.01 wt % and about 0.03 wt %. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 41 , further including:
 Cr at between about 11 wt % and about 12 wt %;   C at between about 0.17 wt % and about 0.22 wt %;   Mo at between about 0.80 wt % and about 1.2 wt %;   Si less than or equal to about 0.5 wt %;   Mn less than or equal to about 1.0 wt %;   V at between about 0.25 wt % and about 0.35 wt %;   W at between about 0.40 wt % and about 0.60 wt %;   P less than or equal to about 0.03 wt %; and   S less than or equal to about 0.03 wt %.   
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 41 , further including:
 Ni at between about 0.3 wt % and 0.7 wt %.   
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 41 , further including:
 Cr at about 11.5 wt %;   C at about 0.20 wt %;   Mo at about 0.90 wt %;   Ni at about 0.55 wt %;   Mn at about 0.65 wt %;   V at about 0.30 wt %;   W at about 0.50 wt %;   Si at about 0.20 wt %; and   N at about 0.02 wt %.   
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 41 , wherein at least substantially all of the composition has a martensite phase. 
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 41 , wherein the composition has a Net Cr eq  of less than or equal to about 9. 
     
     
         51 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . The composition of  claim 41 , further including:
 Cr at about 11.5 wt %;   C at about 0.20 wt %;   Mo at about 0.87 wt %;   Ni at about 0.55 wt %;   Mn at about 0.55 wt %;   V at about 0.30 wt %;   W at about 0.47 wt %;   Si at about 0.25 wt %; and   N at about 0.02 wt %.   
     
     
         73 . The composition of  claim 41  prepared by:
 heat treating a material including the composition at a first temperature under a first condition in which at least some of the composition is transformed into an austenite phase; 
 cooling the material to a second temperature at a cooling rate under a second condition in which at least some of the composition is transformed into a martensite phase; and 
 heat treating the material at a third temperature under a third condition in which carbides are precipitated. 
 
     
     
         74 . The composition of  claim 73  wherein the first temperature is between about 1025° C. and about 1100° C., the second temperature is less than about 50° C., and the third temperature is between about 650° C. and about 780° C. 
     
     
         75 . The composition of  claim 73  wherein substantially all of the composition in heat treating at the first temperature is transformed into an austenite phase and substantially all of the iron-based composition in the cooling is transformed into a martensite phase. 
     
     
         76 . The composition of  claim 73  is further prepared by:
 controlling the weight percent of N in the composition to mitigate formation of delta-ferrite phase. 
 
     
     
         77 . A component for use in an environment subject to irradiation made of the composition of  claim 41 . 
     
     
         78 . The component of  claim 77  wherein the component is a cladding for use as a fuel element. 
     
     
         79 . The component of  claim 77  wherein the component is a fuel assembly comprising a plurality of claddings. 
     
     
         80 . The component of  claim 77  wherein the component is a nuclear reactor component. 
     
     
         81 . The component of  claim 80  wherein the component is a fission reactor component. 
     
     
         82 . The component of  claim 80  wherein the component is a nuclear power reactor component. 
     
     
         83 . A composition comprising:
 Cr at between 11 wt % and 12 wt %;   C at between 0.17 wt % and 0.22 wt %;   Mo at between 0.80 wt % and 1.2 wt %;   Si less than or equal to 0.5 wt %;   Mn less than or equal to 1.0 wt %;   V at between 0.25 wt % and 0.35 wt %;   W at between 0.40 wt % and 0.60 wt %;   P less than or equal to 0.03 wt %;   S less than or equal to 0.03 wt %;   N at between 0.01 wt % and 0.04 wt %; and   Fe at least 80 wt %.   
     
     
         84 . The composition of  claim 83 , further including:
 Ni at between 0.3 wt % and 0.7 wt %.   
     
     
         85 . The composition of  claim 84  consisting essentially of:
 Cr, C, Mo, Si, Mn, V, W, P, S, N, Ni, and Fe. 
 
     
     
         86 . The composition of  claim 83 , further including:
 Cr at 11.5 wt %;   C at 0.20 wt %;   Mo at 0.90 wt %;   Ni at 0.55 wt %;   Mn at 0.65 wt %;   V at 0.30 wt %;   W at 0.50 wt %;   Si at 0.20 wt %; and   N at 0.02 wt %.   
     
     
         87 . The composition of  claim 83 , further including:
 Cr at 11.5 wt %;   C at 0.20 wt %;   Mo at 0.87 wt %;   Ni at 0.55 wt %;   Mn at 0.55 wt %;   V at 0.30 wt %;   W at 0.47 wt %;   Si at 0.25 wt %; and   N at 0.02 wt %.