Modern measurement of local radial thermal conductivity of irradiated he-bonded U-10 wt. % Zr annular fuel: A cross-correlative study with electron probe microanalysis techniques

Key Points

• Thermal conductivity measurements reveal significant variations under irradiation conditions, for U-Zr alloys.
• Key findings indicate an increase in thermal conductivity of up to 25% when using improved electron probe microanalysis.
• Cross-correlative analysis method combines thermal testing with electron probe microanalysis for enhanced measurement accuracy.
• These results suggest the need for advanced bonding techniques to optimize thermal performance in nuclear fuels.