Novel deposition technique for reusable vessels in nuclear metallurgical foundries

Press/Media: STE Highlight

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Protective erbia (Er2O3) and yttria (Y2O3) coatings onto stainless steel coupons. Dip coating was shown to yield a higher adhesion strength than spray coating and was further increased if the substrate had preliminary sandblasting.

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The casting of molten metals, including f-table elements, is important for nuclear metallurgical foundries. However, the molds and crucibles used suffer from short lifespans due to corrosion, increasing replacement and waste removal costs. The creation of a “reusable” mold — by depositing a protective coating onto the melt-containing surface — is one solution, with rare-earth oxides considered strong candidates due to their properties of non-wettability against molten metals. 

In Applied Materials and Interfaces, Los Alamos materials researchers report on a technique that uses chemical solution deposition to apply rare earth-containing precursors to form thick metal oxide coatings onto low-cost substrates. Their technique relies on solution-based procedures used by others in the area of thin film research. The approach is promising, suggesting its role will be significant for application in the foundry.

Specifically, the researchers deposited protective erbia and yttria coatings on stainless steel coupons. Dip and spray coating techniques were tested and compared to a commercial yttria spray. The team observed that solution concentration, solvent choice, micropowder injection, and annealing temperature and ramp profile were critical to the coating’s physical properties. The work, which provides baseline information enabling further refinement in future studies, leveraged the Lab’s expertise in thin films synthesis and characterization, manufacturing science, and foundry operations.

Funding and mission

The work, which supports the Laboratory’s Global Security mission area and its Materials for the Future capability pillar, was funded by Los Alamos’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development program. It was performed in part at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, a DOE Office of Science user facility operated jointly by Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories.

Reference

“Chemical solution deposition of protective Er2O3 and Y2O3 coatings onto stainless steel for molten metal casting using metal-nitrate precursors,” Applied Materials and Interfaces, 15, 23, 28649 (2023); DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c05186. Authors: Daniel J. Rodriguez, Alexander S. Edgar, Darrick J. Williams, Ashleigh M. Chov, Douglas R. Vodnik, David J. Ross, Victor P. Siller and Igor O. Usov (Los Alamos National Laboratory).

Technical contact: Daniel Rodriguez, Igor Usov (MST-7)

PeriodNov 8 2023

Media coverage

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Media coverage

  • TitleNovel deposition technique for reusable vessels in nuclear metallurgical foundries
    Date11/8/23
    PersonsDaniel Jorge Rodriguez, Alexander Steven Edgar, Darrick Joseph Williams, Ashleigh M. Chov, Douglas R Vodnik, David J. Ross, Victor Ponce Siller, Igor Olegovich Usov, Alexander Steven Edgar, Ashleigh M. Chov, Douglas R Vodnik, David J. Ross, Victor Ponce Siller, Igor Olegovich Usov

Media Type

  • STE Highlight

Keywords

  • LA-UR-24-20031

STE Mission

  • Global Security

STE Pillar

  • Materials for the Future

STE Publication Year

  • 2023