THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF HOMOGENEOUS CERAMIC FUELS. Progress Report for Period September 1-November 30, 1959

Technical Report · Sun Oct 30 23:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4202140

Zuromsky, G

The development and testing of dilute UO/sub 2/ ceramic fuels consisting of homogeneous solid solutions of UO/sub 2/ in ZrO/sub 2/ or in CeO/sub 2/ is presented. A suitable method for preparing phase diagram specimens by comminution-blending and cold pressing was developed for the UO/sub 2/-CeO/sub 2/ and UO/sub 2/ZrO/sub 2/-CaO compositions. Beryllia and rhodium metal are suitable container materials for the highly reactive UO/sub 2/CeO/sub 2/ specimens at sintering temperatures abcve 1400 deg C. Stabilized ZrO/sub 2/ is a satisfactory material for containing the UO/sub 2/- ZrO/sub 2/-CaO specimens at temperatures to 1900 deg C. Specimens of two UO/sub 2/- CeO/sub 2/ compositions were vacuum sintered at 1350 to 1700 deg C and air sintered at 1315 to 1450 deg C. Eight UO/sub 2/- ZrO/sub 2/-CaO compositions were vacuum sintered at 1500, 1700, and 1900 deg C, respectively. The UO/sub 2/CeO/sub 2/ specimens are highly sensitive to thermal stresses and showed surface cracks on cooling from the sintering temperatures. The UO/sub 2/-ZrO/sub 2/-CaO specimens are not sensitive to similar thermal stresses. (W.L.H.)

• Research Organization: Combustion Engineering, Inc. Nuclear Div., Windsor, Conn.
• NSA Number: NSA-14-006679
• OSTI ID: 4202140
• Report Number(s): NYO-2742
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
BERYLLIUM OXIDES
CALCIUM OXIDES
CERAMICS
CERIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLD WORKING
COOLING
CRACKS
FUEL CANS
FUSED SALT FUEL
GRAIN SIZE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS
CERAMICS AND MATERIALS
MIXING
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PLANNING
PREPARATION
PRESSURE
RHODIUM
SENSITIVITY
SINTERING
SOLID SOLUTIONS
STABILITY
SURFACES
THERMAL STRESSES
URANIUM DIOXIDE
VACUUM
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES