Anti-fouling coatings and associated systems and methods are generally described. In some aspects, a system comprises a substrate, a coating disposed on at least a portion of the substrate, and a fluid comprising one or more foulants, where the coating is configured to be in physical contact with the fluid during use. According to some embodiments, a full-spectral Hamaker constant associated with the coating and the fluid is relatively low (e.g., about 20 zj or less, about 10 zj or less), and the van der Waals (vdW) force between the coating and the one or more foulants is, therefore, correspondingly low. Under some conditions (e.g., high temperature and/or high pressure conditions), intermolecular interactions between the coating and the one or more foulants may he dominated by the vdW force, and a relatively low vdW force may reduce the likelihood of the one or more foulants adhering to and/or otherwise being deposited on the coating.

Anti-fouling coatings and associated systems and methods are generally described. In some aspects, a system comprises a substrate, a coating disposed on at least a portion of the substrate, and a fluid comprising one or more foulants, where the coating is configured to be in physical contact with the fluid during use. According to some embodiments, a full-spectral Hamaker constant associated with the coating and the fluid is relatively low (e.g., about 20 zj or less, about 10 zj or less), and the van der Waals (vdW) force between the coating and the one or more foulants is, therefore, correspondingly low. Under some conditions (e.g., high temperature and/or high pressure conditions), intermolecular interactions between the coating and the one or more foulants may he dominated by the vdW force, and a relatively low vdW force may reduce the likelihood of the one or more foulants adhering to and/or otherwise being deposited on the coating.

A Gland Seal End Plug closure for a nuclear fuel rod cladding composed of silicon carbide or other materials that cannot be welded. The sealant is, preferably, made from one or more forms of pure graphite and the ram, seat and other components of the Gland Seal End Plug are formed from high temperature metallic or ceramic materials.

A Gland Seal End Plug closure for a nuclear fuel rod cladding composed of silicon carbide or other materials that cannot be welded. The sealant is, preferably, made from one or more forms of pure graphite and the ram, seat and other components of the Gland Seal End Plug are formed from high temperature metallic or ceramic materials.

A method for making a fuel rod cladding tube and a cladding tube are described. The method includes wrapping ceramic fibers, for example, SiC fibers in a SiC matrix, around a tube formed from a metal alloy, such as a zirconium alloy. The interstices of the SiC wrappings on the tube are at least partially filled with SiC nano-sized particles. The surface of the filled tube is exposed by atomic layer deposition, at temperatures ranging from 25° C. to 600° C., to at least one cycle of alternating, non-overlapping pulses of gaseous precursors containing carbon and silicon to form a SiC monolayer. The step of filling the interstices of the SiC wrappings on the tube with SiC nano-sized particles fills large voids in the SiC wrapping. The step of exposing the surface of the particle filled SiC windings to at least one cycle of gaseous pulses fills small voids in the SiC wrapping.

A method for making a fuel rod cladding tube and a cladding tube are described. The method includes wrapping ceramic fibers, for example, SiC fibers in a SiC matrix, around a tube formed from a metal alloy, such as a zirconium alloy. The interstices of the SiC wrappings on the tube are at least partially filled with SiC nano-sized particles. The surface of the filled tube is exposed by atomic layer deposition, at temperatures ranging from 25° C. to 600° C., to at least one cycle of alternating, non-overlapping pulses of gaseous precursors containing carbon and silicon to form a SiC monolayer. The step of filling the interstices of the SiC wrappings on the tube with SiC nano-sized particles fills large voids in the SiC wrapping. The step of exposing the surface of the particle filled SiC windings to at least one cycle of gaseous pulses fills small voids in the SiC wrapping.

A cladding tube, a fuel rod and a fuel assembly are disclosed. The cladding tube comprises a tubular base component having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner space of the cladding tube housing a pile of fuel pellets. The tubular base component is made of a Zr-based alloy. A coating is applied onto the outer surface for protecting the tubular base component from mechanical wear, oxidation and hydriding. The Zr-based alloy has the following composition: Zr=balance, Al=0-2 wt %, Ti=0-20 wt %, Sn=0-6 wt %, Fe=0-0.4 wt %, Nb=0-0.4 wt %, O=200-1800 wtppm, C=0-200 wtppm, Si=0-200 wtppm, and S=0-200 wtppm. The total amount of Al+Ti+Sn>2.5 wt % and ≤28 wt %.

A cladding tube, a fuel rod and a fuel assembly are disclosed. The cladding tube comprises a tubular base component having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner space of the cladding tube housing a pile of fuel pellets. The tubular base component is made of a Zr-based alloy. A coating is applied onto the outer surface for protecting the tubular base component from mechanical wear, oxidation and hydriding. The Zr-based alloy has the following composition: Zr=balance, Al=0-2 wt %, Ti=0-20 wt %, Sn=0-6 wt %, Fe=0-0.4 wt %, Nb=0-0.4 wt %, O=200-1800 wtppm, C=0-200 wtppm, Si=0-200 wtppm, and S=0-200 wtppm. The total amount of Al+Ti+Sn>2.5 wt % and ≤28 wt %.

Hydrogen-resistant coatings and associated systems and methods are generally described. In some aspects, a hydrogen-resistant coating comprises a doped tin oxide comprising one or more dopants. The doped tin oxide may, in some cases, exhibit low hydrogen solubility and low hydrogen diffusivity and may therefore reduce and/or prevent permeation of hydrogen in an underlying substrate. In some embodiments, the one or more dopants comprise one or more transition metals (e.g., tungsten, molybdenum, niobium).

Hydrogen-resistant coatings and associated systems and methods are generally described. In some aspects, a hydrogen-resistant coating comprises a doped tin oxide comprising one or more dopants. The doped tin oxide may, in some cases, exhibit low hydrogen solubility and low hydrogen diffusivity and may therefore reduce and/or prevent permeation of hydrogen in an underlying substrate. In some embodiments, the one or more dopants comprise one or more transition metals (e.g., tungsten, molybdenum, niobium).