LLNL researchers characterize hydrogen-uranium corrosion

Their findings, which were recently published in the journal Materials Degradation, could lead to the development of “more predictive and physically grounded” models for how uranium components degrade when exposed to hydrogen gas, according to LLNL. Such models, in turn, could lead to improved safety and durability for materials that are used in fusion energy generation, nuclear fuel storage, and hydrogen storage.

LLNL researchers characterize hydrogen-uranium corrosion. Their findings, which were recently published in the journal Materials Degradation, could lead to the development of “more predictive and physically grounded” models for how uranium components degrade when exposed to hydrogen gas, according to LLNL. Such models, in turn, could lead to improved safety and durability for materials that are used in fusion energy generation, nuclear fuel storage, and hydrogen storage. Uranium to uranium hydride: As hydrogen gas chemically reacts with uranium metal, the hydrogen diffuses into the uranium, resulting in the transformation of parts of the uranium into a compound called uranium hydride. That compound has a substantially greater volume than the original uranium metal. As the uranium hydride expands toward the surface of the metal, it forms b...