b'2019 | ANNUAL REPORTless than 20 at.% Nb in IIPs. However,This overall hypothesis is being testedFigure 1. (S)TEM/EDS the maximum Nb concentration inthrough an ongoing research programcharacterization on native IIPs has been detected to be about 40at the Couet group, and this RTE hasprecipitates (blue arrows), IIPs in Zr-0.5Nb (red arrows), and IIPs in Zr-at.% Nb. brought critical data for its validation.1.0Nb (yellow arrows) [1].Conclusion This information will allow reevalu-This RTE confirms that proton irradia- ation of current fuel-cladding design tion can redistribute Nb atoms in theto maximize safety and burnup for the Zr matrix of ZrNb alloys. This redistri- use in current generation of nuclear bution is hypothesized as the primaryreactors through the Mechanistic reason for the relatively low in-reactorUnderstanding of Zirconium Corro-corrosion kinetics experienced bysion (MUZIC) consortium.ZrNb alloys even at large burnups. 59'