Fuel assembly sputtering process
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
United States of America Patent
Stats
-
Apr 5, 1994
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Aug 3, 1992
filing date -
Aug 3, 1992
priority date (Note) -
Expired
status (Latency Note)
Importance
Abstract
A method for sputter coating the inside surface (30) of a fuel assembly tubular component (10) such as a control rod guide tube (200) with wear or corrosion resistant material. The steps include supporting the component tube in a fixture (12,14) and supporting a source tube (100,300) of e.g., wear resistant material, coaxially within the component tube, thereby defining a cylindrical annulus (24) between the tubes. The annular space is evacuated and backfilled with an inert working gas (26) such as argon, to a pressure sufficient to sustain a plasma discharge. The component tube is positively biased (36) as an anode, and the source tube is negatively biased (34) as a cathode, such that a plasma of the working gas is established in the annular space. A circumferential magnetic field is generated around the source tube to confine and shape the plasma whereby the source tube is bombarded with ions from the plasma substantially uniformly over the length of the source tube. Wear resistant material is thereby sputtered substantially uniformly from the source tube onto the inside surface of the component tube, to form a coating thereon.
First Claim
Other Claims data not available