FABRICATION AND IRRADIATION OF SM-2 CORE MATERIALS

Technical Report · Wed Jul 12 04:00:00 EDT 1961

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4019037· OSTI ID:4019037

Paprocki, S J; Dickerson, R F; Cunningham, G W; Murr, W E; Lozier, D E

Irradiatibn and examination were completed on four capsules of specimens prepared in the SM-2 Core Materials Development Program. Each capsule contained five-to eight flat-plate dispersion specimens roll clad with Type 347 stainless steel. Six capsules containing 36 specimens are still under irnadintion in the ETR. Variables being studied include use of (1) fuel concentrations of nominal 26 and 40 wt% UO/sub 2/ and 34 wt% UN, (2) hydrothermal UO/sub 2/, spherical UO/ sub 2/, and UN fuels, (3) B/sub 4/C, NbB/sub 2/, and ZrB/sub 2/ dispersion poisons and no poison loading, (4) a half-loading of reference ZrB/sub 2/ dispersion poison, (5) a boron-10 stainless steel picture frame, and (6) sintering or green pressing alone for core preparation. The specimens in the first capsules underwent burnups of 20 to 40 at% of the uranium235 at surface temperatures near 700 deg F. It was found that the burnable poisons, both dispersed in the fuel and alloyed in the cladding, performed satisfactorily. No specimens containing a nominal 40 wt% UO/sub 2/ or equivalent UN concentration were included in the first four capsules, but at the 26 wt% loading both the hydrothermal and spherical UO/sub 2/ performed well. Encouraging results were obtained for the nonsintered core. (auth)

• Research Organization: Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-92
• NSA Number: NSA-15-025263
• OSTI ID: 4019037
• Report Number(s): BMI-1528
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALLOYS
BORON CARBIDES
BURNUP
CANNING
COMPACTING
DISPERSIONS
FABRICATION
FUELS
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NIOBIUM BORIDES
PLATES
POISONING
REACTORS
SINTERING
STAINLESS STEELS
TEMPERATURE
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM NITRIDES
ZIRCONIUM BORIDES