FUEL-BEARING FIBERGLAS IN ALUMINUM-BASE FUEL ELEMENTS. Summary Report, May 4, 1960-October 31, 1960

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4028114

Baskey, R H; Johnson, R D

Aluminum-coated glass fibers composed of plate glass or depleted uranlum- bearing RX-70 glass were processed into core material by hot pressing or cold pressing followed by hot pressing and then fabricated into aluminum-clad fuel plates. The RX-70 fiberglas had an average composition of 44.4 percent aluminum by volume and 55.6 percent glass by volume. Hot-pressed composites containing RX- 70 fibers oriented parallel to the applied stress exhibited excellent tansile strength retention properties at elevated temperatures. With few exceptions, the tensile strength was relatively constant varying from 18,850 psi to 24,000 psi over the temperature range from 400 to 1000 deg F. The same material containing fibers oriented perpendicular to the applied stress exhibited a decreasing tensile strength wlth increasing test temperature. The unclad fabricated fiberglas (uranium-free) core material had tensile strengths up to 22,000 psi at room temperature; the elongntion and reduction in area were normally less than 1%. The unclad material usualiy bent only 7 to 10 degrees around a 1/4-inch radius. Cladding elther typ of fiberglas-reinforced aluminum with 11OO, 6061, or 5154 aluminum increased the formability to the extent that it could be bent up to 90 degrees around an identical radius without breaking. This clad material exhibited reductions in area up to 57% and elongations up to 11% at 1000 deg F. Tensile strengths up to 30,650 psi were measured at room temperature. Alclad 6061 plates containing RX-70 fiberglas-reinforced aluminum core sections exhibited tensile strengths at 6OO deg F which were approximately 50% greater than either the conventional aluminumclad, Al--U alIoy fuel plates or commercial grade 6061 aluminum. Alclad-fiberglas-reirforced aluminum was also employed as a cladding material for an RX-70 fiberglasreinforced aluminum core section. This method resulted in improved core uniformity and eliminated the "dog boning" because the yield strength of the cladding and core material was almost identical at the rolling temperature of 1OOO deg F. The tensile strengths were comparable to aluminum-clad Al-U fuel plates, although less than alclad 6061 plates containing RX-70 fiberglas-reirforced aluminum core sections. The processing has been developed to the point where composite fuel plates are being produced which are blister free. The core uniformity with respect to dimensions, the fuel distribution and the core end contour are comparable to standard MTR fuel plates. (auth)

• Research Organization: Clevite Corp. Mechanical Research Div., Cleveland
• NSA Number: NSA-15-016648
• OSTI ID: 4028114
• Report Number(s): ORO-342
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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