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U.S. Department of Energy
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MANUFACTURE OF THE ThO$sub 2$-UO$sub 2$ CERAMIC FUEL PELLETS FOR BORAX-IV

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4331340· OSTI ID:4331340
Preliminary investigation indicated that it was possible to prepare thoria-urania solid solutions by sintering in air a mixture of ThO/sub 2/ and U/ sub 3/O.sub 8/. The U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ on heatin g in air was found to disassociate, and when heated with ThO/sub 2/, the resultant body was essentially a ThO/sub 2/-UO/sub 2/ solid solution. The methods used in preparing and granulating the ThO/sub 2/ and U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ for the BORAX-IV loading are discussed in detail. This material was dry pressed using pressures from 13,000 to 15,000 psi. The pressed pellets were loaded into alumina crucibles and fired to a peak temperature of 1700 deg C to 1750 deg C. The fired ware was found to have an average ap parent density of 9.8 g/cc. The pellets were loaded into Al1 wt.% Ni tube plates and the annulus between the pellet and the tube was filled with lead. After closing the open end of the tube plates, the plates were spot welded into a subassembly. (auth)
Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., Lemont, Ill.
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
NSA Number:
NSA-12-000532
OSTI ID:
4331340
Report Number(s):
ANL-5678
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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