Thermochemistry of transition metal tellurides of interest in nuclear technology

Abstract

The binary systems of tellurium with the alloying constituents of stainless steel, viz. Fe, Cr, Ni, Mo and Mn, were investigated by using high temperature mass spectrometry. The partial pressures of Te₂ and Te, which were the only species detected in the vapour phase in all the cases except MnTe, were obtained as a function of temperature and composition. All the telluride phases were found to be nonstoichiometric and their homogeneity ranges broader than hitherto recognised. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy of vaporisation, enthalpy of formation and Gibbs free energy of formation were deduced for various compositions. The threshold tellurium potential necessary for the corrosion of the clad was calculated for each alloying constituent, and this data was compared with the estimated tellurium potential in the fuel-clad gap of the fuel pins in fast breeder reactors. The role of fission product tellurium in the internal corrosion of the clad is discussed in the light of the above data.