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Development of an EDS-Based Grain Segmentation Method for MIMAS-MOX Nuclear Fuels.

Evan Morel¹, Florent Lebreton¹, Loïs Gauthier¹

¹CEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ. Montpellier, Marcoule, France.

Microscopy and Microanalysis : the Official Journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada

|June 4, 2026

Summary

A new scanning electron microscopy (SEM) method using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) enables detailed analysis of mixed oxide (MOX) nuclear fuel microstructures. This technique effectively measures grain sizes in different phases within uranium-rich and plutonium-rich agglomerates.

Keywords:

EBSD EDS MIMAS MOX SEM ceramic grain size microstructure nuclear fuel

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nuclear Engineering
Analytical Chemistry

Background:

Mixed oxide (MOX) nuclear fuels manufactured via the MIMAS process exhibit complex microstructures with varying plutonium content.
Understanding the phase-dependent microstructure is crucial for fuel performance and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) method for detailed microstructural and chemical analysis of MIMAS-type MOX fuels.
To enable phase-dependent grain size analysis within different plutonium-rich and uranium-rich agglomerates.

Main Methods:

Simultaneous acquisition of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) maps using SEM.
Post-treatment of EDS/EBSD data to generate maps of plutonium-rich agglomerates, grain boundaries, and porosities.
Development and validation of a criterion for attributing grains to specific agglomerate types, compared against electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) data.

Main Results:

The developed EDS/EBSD method successfully maps microstructural features and chemical compositions in MOX fuels.
A criterion was established to differentiate between plutonium-rich and uranium-rich grains.
The method provides insights into the relationship between microstructural features and chemical composition, allowing for accurate grain size measurements in different phases.

Conclusions:

The presented EDS/EBSD method offers a simple and convenient approach for analyzing the microstructure of MIMAS-type MOX fuels.
This technique facilitates the study of microstructural and chemical heterogeneities, crucial for optimizing nuclear fuel design and performance.
The method validates the interdependence of microstructural and chemical characteristics in MOX fuels.