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The metallurgical integrity of the frit vent assembly diffusion bond [electronic resource].

Published
Washington, D.C. : United States. Dept. of Energy, 1994.
Oak Ridge, Tenn. : Distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Physical Description
22 pages : digital, PDF file
Additional Creators
United States. Department of Energy and United States. Department of Energy. Office of Scientific and Technical Information
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Summary
Iridium alloy clad vent sets (CVSs) are now being made by Energy Systems at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. These CVSs are being made for the US Department of Energy`s (NE-53) General Purpose Heat Source- Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (GPHS-RTG) program, which is to supply electrical power for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration`s Cassini mission to Saturn. A GPHS-RTG has 72 CVSs. Each CVS encapsulates one ²³⁸PuO₂ fuel pellet. The helium gas produced from the alpha decay of the ²³⁸Pu is vented through a nominal 0.45-mm-diam hole in the vent cup of each CVS. A frit vent assembly that is electron beam welded over the vent hole allows helium gas to escape but prevents plutonia fines from exiting. The metallurgical integrity of frit vent assemblies produced by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Energy Systems) were compared with those produced earlier by EG&G-Mound Applied Technology, Inc. (EG&G-MAT). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs were taken (at magnifications of from 126X to 1,000X) of the starting frit vent powder and the diffusion-bonded powder in finished frit vent assemblies produced by Energy Systems and EG&G-MAT. Frit vent assemblies also were metallographically prepared and visually examined/photographed at magnifications of from 50X to 1,000X. The SEM and metallographic examinations of the particle-to-particle and particle-to-foil component diffusion bonds indicated that the Energy Systems-produced and EG&G-MAT-produced frit vent assemblies have comparable metallurgical integrity. Statistical analysis of the Energy Systems production data shows that the frit vent manufacturing yield is 91%.
Report Numbers
E 1.99:y/dv--1321
y/dv--1321
Subject(s)
Other Subject(s)
Note
Published through SciTech Connect.
06/01/1994.
"y/dv--1321"
"DE95000610"
Ulrich, G.B.
Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (United States)
Type of Report and Period Covered Note
Topical; 06/01/1994 - 06/01/1994
Funding Information
AC05-84OS21400
View MARC record | catkey: 14067798