US3867489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of producing an oxidation-resistant UO{HD 2 {B Fuel Body
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
•
Filing: 1962-07-17
•
Granted: 1975-02-18
•
Expires: 1982-07-17
Abstract
Abstract 1. A method of forming a UO2 fuel body resistive to oxidative attack, which comprises mixing UO2 and a ceramic oxide of relatively low thermal neutron absorption cross section, adding to the resulting mixture a small amount of a compound selected from the class consisting of alkali metal halides, and alkaline earth metal halides, and then forming a fuel body of the resulting composition.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack A Rubin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:31
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/42; G21C3/58; G21C3/62; G21C3/623; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A METHOD OF FORMING A UO2 FUEL BODY RESISTIVE TO OXIDATIVE ATTACK, WHICH COMPRISES MIXING UO2 AND A CERAMIC OXIDE OF RELATIVELY LOW THERMAL NEUTRON ABSORPTION CROSS SECTION, ADDING TO THE RESULTING MIXTURE A SMALL AMOUNT OF A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALKALI METAL HALIDES AND ALKALINE EARTH METAL HALIDES, AND THEN FORMING A FUEL BODY OF THE RESULTING COMPOSITION.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
A METHOD OF FORMING A UO2 FUEL BODY RESISTIVE TO OXIDATIVE ATTACK, WHICH COMPRISES MIXING UO2 AND A CERAMIC OXIDE OF RELATIVELY LOW THERMAL NEUTRON ABSORPTION CROSS SECTION, ADDING TO THE RESULTING MIXTURE A SMALL AMOUNT OF A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALKALI METAL HALIDES AND ALKALINE EARTH METAL HALIDES, AND THEN FORMING A FUEL BODY OF THE RESULTING COMPOSITION.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of forming a fuel body which comprises mixing UO2 and a refractory oxide of relatively low thermal neutrOn absorption cross section selected from the class consisting of BeO, BeO-MgO, MgO, and Al2O3, adding to the resulting mixture a small amount of a compound selected from the class consisting of alkali metal halides and alkaline earth metal halides, and then forming a ceramic fuel body of the resulting composition.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of forming a fuel body which comprises mixing UO2 and a refractory oxide of relatively low thermal neutrOn absorption cross section selected from the class consisting of BeO, BeO-MgO, MgO, and Al2O3, adding to the resulting mixture a small amount of a compound selected from the class consisting of alkali metal halides and alkaline earth metal halides, and then forming a ceramic fuel body of the resulting composition.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of forming a UO2 fuel body which comprises mixing UO2 and BeO powders, adding to said mixture a small mount of a compound selected from the class consisting of alkali metal halides and alkaline earth metal halides, and then forming a UO2-BeO fuel body of the resulting mixture.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of forming a UO2 fuel body which comprises mixing UO2 and BeO powders, adding to said mixture a small mount of a compound selected from the class consisting of alkali metal halides and alkaline earth metal halides, and then forming a UO2-BeO fuel body of the resulting mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3 wherein approximately 0.1-1 wt. % of the last-named additive is added to said UO2-BeO fuel composition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said UO2-BeO fuel body is formed by hot pressing said resulting mixture in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of forming a UO2-BeO fuel body, which comprises mixing UO2 and BeO powders, adding to the resulting mixture approximately 0.1-1 wt. % of an alkaline earth metal fluoride, and then hot pressing the resulting composition in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to produce the UO2-BeO fuel body.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of forming a UO2-BeO fuel body, which comprises mixing UO2 and BeO powders, adding to the resulting mixture approximately 0.1-1 wt. % of an alkaline earth metal fluoride, and then hot pressing the resulting composition in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to produce the UO2-BeO fuel body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said hot pressing is conducted under the approximate conditions of 1,400*-1,800* C, 2,000-6,000 psi, and 2 to 8 hours in an inert gas atmosphere.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said UO2 comprises approximately 5-15 wt. % of the fuel body composition.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of forming a UO2-BeO fuel body which comprises forming a powder mixture consisting essentially of 5-15 wt. % UO2, approximately 0.25 wt. % alkaline earth metal fluoride, and the remainder BeO, forming an aqueous suspension of the resulting mixture, drying the resulting suspension, placing the dried powders in a die in an inert gas atmosphere, and then hot pressing said powders under the approximate conditions of 1,600* C and 2,000 psi for 4 hours.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of forming a UO2-BeO fuel body which comprises forming a powder mixture consisting essentially of 5-15 wt. % UO2, approximately 0.25 wt. % alkaline earth metal fluoride, and the remainder BeO, forming an aqueous suspension of the resulting mixture, drying the resulting suspension, placing the dried powders in a die in an inert gas atmosphere, and then hot pressing said powders under the approximate conditions of 1,600* C and 2,000 psi for 4 hours.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2816042A
Cited
US2818605A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |