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Fabrication of a non-fertile fuel for the disposition of weapons plutonium in water reactors

Conference ·
OSTI ID:204244
The feasibility of fabricating a non-fertile fuel containing weapons plutonium was evaluated. A surrogate fuel, specifically a CeO{sub 2}-ZrO{sub 2}-CaO fuel pellet, was fabricated using the solid-state reaction method to determine the effect of powder comminution, pellet formation, and sintering conditions on the microstructural development of the fuel. Dry ball milling of the precursor powders (CeO{sub 2}, ZrO{sub 2}, and CaO) proved to be an ineffective method for producing reactive powders for pellet pressing and sintering. However, results indicate that formation of the calcia-stabilized diluent and solid solution between the diluent and the actinide surrogate (CeO{sub 2}) occurred as a result of sintering the fuel pellet at a temperature of 1200{degrees}C to 1700{degrees}C.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
204244
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--96-6; CONF-960306--7; ON: DE96007184
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English