THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF HOMOGENEOUS CERAMIC FUELS. Quarterly Report, September 1, 1960-November 30, 1960
An investigation was made of the CaO-UO/sub 2/-ZrO/sub 2/ system to determine the effects of hydrogen sintering on the composition limits for single- phase fcc structures and the corrosion, physical, and thermal properties of select singlephase cubic structures. The specimens consisted of 10, 20, 28, and 35 mole% CaO-stabilized ZrO/sub 2/, containing 4 to 52 mole% UC/sub 2/, and were sintered at 1425, 1525, 1675, or 1750 deg C. Low-density single-phase structures were exhibited for 10 mole% CaO specimens at all sintering temperatures and 20 mole% CaO at 1425 deg C. Porous two-phase structures were found for 28 and 35 mole% CaO st 1425 deg C, in which the CaZrO/sub 3/ phase occurred in similar amounts for all UC/sub 2/ contents. A grain-boundary glassy structure was found in some specimens sintered above 1500 deg C, and was nace tube and CaO in the specimen. The glassy-phase was found to decrease with increasing UO/sub 2/ content for the 20 mole% CaO specimens. The quantity and fluidity of the glassy phase are dependent on the CaO content, as indicated by complete absence at 10 mole%, to massive amounts at 28 and 35 mole% specimens. Oxygen in excess of stoichiometric UO/sub 2/ did not improve the sinterability of the system compositions in hydrogen. An experimental fixture utilizing a tungsten heater rod and hollow cylindrical specimens of the ceramic fueis was constructed. Argon- sintered specimens showed average weight gains of 1.5 to 8.7 mg/ din/sup 2//day following 75 days exposure to 360 deg C degassed water at neutral pH. The weight gain rate decreased sharply with increasing exposure time. (B.O.G.)
- Research Organization:
- Combustion Engineering, Inc. Nuclear Div., Windsor, Conn.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-011576
- OSTI ID:
- 4084459
- Report Number(s):
- CEND-113; NYO-2993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF HOMOGENEOUS CERAMIC FUELS. Progress Report for Period December 1, 1959-February 29, 1960
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Related Subjects
ALUMINUM OXIDES
ARGON
CALCIUM OXIDES
CERAMICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
CYLINDERS
DEGASSING
DENSITY
EXPANSION
FLUID FLOW
FUELS
FURNACES
GLASS
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
HYDROGEN
INERT GASES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LATTICES
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
OXYGEN
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PLANNING
POROSITY
RODS
SINTERING
STABILITY
STANDARDS
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
THERMAL PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMICS
TUBES
TUNGSTEN
URANIUM DIOXIDE
VOLATILITY
WATER
WEIGHT
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES