FABRICATION OF UO$sub 2$ FUEL RODS BY VIBRATIONAL COMPACTION AND PRESSURE BONDING
Over 60 fuel rods having variations in UO/sub 2/ particle size, micronized UO/sub 2/ content, cladding material, and cladding thickness were fabricated in an investigation of the combined use of vibrational compaction and gas-pressurebonding as a possible low-cost method for making uranium dioxide fuel rods. It was found that fuel rods having densities approximately 95% of theoretical with acceptable surface characteristics can be produced with oxide mixtures containing 30 to 40% micronized oxide. Packing densities of approximately 75% of theoreticai and for relatively thin-walled cladding a maximum particle size of 20 mesh were also found necessary. Bonding parameters consisted of 3 hr at 1149 deg C and 10,000 psi. Agglomeration of the micronized UO/sub 2/ resulted in some fuel nonuniiormity and suggests the possible usefulness of swaging as a precompaction operation. The effects of pressure bonding on Types 304, 304L, 347, and 318 stainiess steels were also investigated with respect to final grain size. Prior cold work permitted limited control of grain size on these steels. Huey tests indicated that little sensitization of Types 347 and 304L alloys can be expected under the bonding condition employed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio; General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-92
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-029294
- OSTI ID:
- 4685596
- Report Number(s):
- BMI-1637
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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