Nuclear fuel element containing sintered uranium dioxide fuel with a fine particulate dispersion of an oxide additive therein,and method of making same
Abstract
Abstract SINTERED URANIUM DIOXIDE CONTAINING AN ADDITIVE OF FOR EXAMPLE MAGNESIUM OXIDE OR ALUMINUM OXIDE, THE ADDITIVE BEING DESPRESED IN FINE PARTICULATE FORM WITHIN THE GRAINS OF URANIUM DIOXIDE. A METHOD IS ALSO DISCLOSED FOR PREPARING SUCH A MATERIAL IN WHICH THE URANIUM DIOXIDE CONTAINING THE ADDITIVE IS SINTERED IN AN OXIDISING ATMOSPHERE, FOR EXAMPLE 0 TO 50% HYDROGEN IN CARBON DIOXIDE TO CONVERT THE MATERIAL TO A HYPERSTOICHIOMETRIC URANIUM DIOXIDE IN WHICH THE ADDITIVE IS SOLUBLE. THE MATERIAL IS THEN HEATED IN A REDUCTING ATMOSPHERE FOR EXAMPLE OF HYDROGEN TO CONVERT THE MATERIAL TO STOICHIOMETRIC URANIUM DIOXIDE IN WHICH THE ADDITIVE IS INSOLUBLE WHEREBY THE ADDITIVE IS RELEASED FROM SOLUTION IN THE MATERIAL DISPERSED IN FINE PARTICULATE FORM WITHIN THE GRAINS OF THE URANIUM DIOXIDE.
Inventors
- 👤 F Rigby
- 👤 J Ainscough
Bibliographic Details
Claims Analysis
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