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IRRADIATION BEHAVIOR OF ThO$sub 2$-UO$sub 2$ FUELS

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4223205· OSTI ID:4223205
ThO/sub 2/-UO/sub 2/ fuels have been studied because of certain advantages possessed by this type of fuel over UO/sub 2/. Pellets of ThO/sub 2/- UO/sub 2/ have been found to be highly stable dimensionally under irradiation. Various experimental assemblies which have been irradiated have included Al, Zircaloy, and stainless steel cladding, with the annulus surrounding the pellet filled with air, He, NaK, or Pb. A full-scale core of pellets lead-bonded to Al tube-plates has been used successfully in the Borax-IV reactor. Preliminary defect tests have shown that solid fission products are retained and that only the gaseous products, Xe/sup 138/ and Kr/sup 88/, are detectable in the reactor coolant system. (auth)
Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., Lemont, Ill.
NSA Number:
NSA-13-023061
OSTI ID:
4223205
Report Number(s):
TID-7559(Pt.1)(Paper 33)
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English