The European Mini-Plate Irradiation Experiment (EMPIrE) aims to test the in-pile behavior of various ZrN coated UMo powder batches, produced using different technological processes. UMo(ZrN) particles are typical core-shell systems taking advantages of a dense fissile material, UMo, with a coated ZrN layer acting as a diffusion barrier. The U-7Mo kernels were produced by centrifugal or rotating electrode atomization processes and the ZrN coating was performed by physical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition processes. A total of ten batches of UMo(ZrN) powders were examined in the as-obtained state, i.e prior to fuel-plate fabrication and before in-pile irradiation. The present investigation gives a characterization of each powder batch mainly in terms of morphological and microstructural features carried out by means of SEM-EDS, LOM, EPMA, AFM and TEM analyses. Digital image processing using ImageJ software was employed to determine several particle size (major axis, minor axis, Feret's diameters, and equivalent diameter) and shape (aspect ratio, circularity, convexity and concavity) parameters as well as the ZrN deposited layer thickness. The quality of the ZrN layer was examined in terms of surface roughness, grain structure and aggregated habits. Our characterization results draw a detailed portrait of the UMo(ZrN) powders selected for the EMPIrE experiment and allow a classification of the powder batches which is presented as radar chart (Kiviat diagram).

欧洲微板辐射实验（EMPIrE）旨在测试使用不同工艺流程生产的各种ZrN涂覆的UMo粉末批次的桩内行为。UMo（ZrN）颗粒是典型的核-壳系统，它利用致密易裂变材料UMo的优势，具有涂层ZrN层作为扩散阻挡层。通过离心或旋转电极雾化工艺生产U-7Mo籽粒，并通过物理气相沉积或原子层沉积工艺进行ZrN涂层。总共UMO（的ZrN）粉末的10个批次中的获得的状态，检查即在燃料板制造之前和堆内辐射之前。本研究主要通过SEM-EDS，LOM，EPMA，AFM和TEM分析对粉末批次进行了形态和微观结构表征。使用使用ImageJ软件的数字图像处理来确定几个粒径（长轴，短轴，费雷特直径和等效直径）和形状（纵横比，圆度，凸度和凹度）参数以及ZrN沉积层的厚度。根据表面粗糙度，晶粒结构和聚集习惯检查了ZrN层的质量。