Rover fuel element development activities: July-September 1971
Experimental studies designed to fabricate NERVA graphite fuel elements capable of cyclic operations at exit gas temperatures of approximately 4400/degree/R were continued during this report period. Carbon precursor materials, manufacturing parameters, and deposition of carbide films are included in these studies. Accomplishments include the following: three commercial powders were extruded into elements having a desirable coefficient of thermal expansion; molded graphites using low-fired filler carbons and uncured short organic fibers produced graphites having an improved strain-to-failure value; thick-walled tubes of vapor-deposited zirconium carbide were produced, and the chemical composition was determined; vapor-deposited zirconium carbide coatings were applied to fuel-element bores; experimental graphite fuel elements were hot-gas tested; uranium-loaded ion exchange beads survived a heat treatment cycle of 2800/degree/C for three hours. Organic precursor carbon studies were oriented toward modification of the CAI polymers. 2 refs., 66 figs., 23 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OS21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6980255
- Report Number(s):
- Y-DA-4494; ON: DE88012561
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Declassified 26 Mar 1974
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Rover fuel element development activities: October-December 1971
Nerva Fuel Element Development Program Summary Report - July 1966 through June 1972 Extrusion Studies
Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
NERVA REACTOR
BINDERS
CARBON
CRACKS
EXTRUSION
GRAPHITE
IMPREGNATION
MICROSTRUCTURE
POLYMERS
PROGRESS REPORT
THERMAL EXPANSION
VAPOR DEPOSITED COATINGS
ZIRCONIUM CARBIDES
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
COATINGS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EXPANSION
GAS COOLED REACTORS
HYDROGEN COOLED REACTORS
MATERIALS WORKING
MINERALS
MOBILE REACTORS
NONMETALS
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
220800* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Propulsion Reactors
050700 - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties