CARBIDE FUEL DEVELOPMENT. Progress Report, October 1, 1962-March 31, 1963

Technical Report · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1963

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4685447· OSTI ID:4685447

Strasser, A; Stahl, D; Taylor, K; Anderson, J

FUEL FABRlCATlON AND EVALUATION. The synthesis and fabrication of (UO/ sub 0.95/Pu/sub 0.05/)C/sub 0.98/ test specimens by cold pressing and sintering for out-of-pile property measurements were completed. Theoretical densities of 91% (avg) were obtained without sirtering aid and 96% (avg) with 0.1 wt% nickel sintering aid. Mixed sesquicarbide, ated into pellets 94% of theoretical density. Massive, carbon-stabilized PuO was synthesized by the carbon reduction of the dioxide. The carbon content of the product was 0.14 wt%. The coefficients of expansion of (U/sub 0.95/Pu/sub 0.05/)C/sub 0.098/ with and without nickel sintering aid were measured to 1400 deg C, and found to be 12.2 to 12.6 x 10/sup - 6/DEC. Measurements of melting point and vapor pressure of mixed monocarbides were started by testing standards. Compatibility tests at 593 and 816 deg C were started. Examinarion of results to date show a reaction between (U/sub 0.95/Pu/ sub 0.05/)C/sub 0.98/ and Zircaloy-2, and no reaction with type 316 stainless steel and niobium after 1000 hr at 816 deg C. This is similar to previous results with UC. IRRADIATION TESTS. The assembly of all the irradiation capsules was completed. Ten of the 12 planned specimens of (U/sub 0.8/Pu/sub 0.2/) C/sub 0.95/ are currently operating in the GETR. The longest burnup obtained to date is 13,000 Mwd/ton (avg). (auth)

• Research Organization: United Nuclear Corp. Development Div., White Plains, N.Y.; Carborundum Co., Niagara Falls, N.Y.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-1)-2899
• NSA Number: NSA-17-029330
• OSTI ID: 4685447
• Report Number(s): UNC-5056
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
BURNUP
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLD WORKING
COMPACTING
DENSITY
EXPANSION
FABRICATION
FUEL CANS
FUELS
GETR
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
IRRADIATION
MEASURED VALUES
MELTING POINTS
NICKEL
NIOBIUM
PELLETS
PLUTONIUM CARBIDES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
PRESSURE
QUANTITY RATIO
REDUCTION
SINTERING
STAINLESS STEELS
STANDARDS
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
URANIUM CARBIDES
VAPORS
ZIRCALOY