PNEUMATIC INJECTION CASTING OF ALUMINUM-PLUTONIUM FUEL ELEMENTS

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4687523

Koler, R K

A process was developed for the injection casting of 90-in.-long plutonium alloy fuel rods within a glove box. Cast-bonded Al--2 wt.% Pu--2 wt.% Ni alloy 1/2-in.-diam. rods with 0.035-in. Zircaloy cladding were made with densities over 95% of wrought density. Core-to-clad bond shear strengths of 3000 to 4500 psi were measured, and ultrasonic testing of a seven-rod irradiation cluster showed good bond uniformity. It was demonstrated on a laboratory scale that aluminum--plutonium fuel elements can be fabricated by pneumatic injection casting. No conclusions can be drawn concerning the unit cost of injection-cast fuel elements as compared with extruded-core elements, since the prototypic equipment was not operated long enough to establish bases for such data. Difficulty was encountered in meeting the specifications pertaining to plutonium distribution. This problem was in part due to equipment limitations and was not completely resolved. A study of the ternary system in the high aluminum range would help account for some of the anomalies found in the alloy castings. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(45-1)-1350
• NSA Number: NSA-17-027758
• OSTI ID: 4687523
• Report Number(s): HW-69204
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM ALLOYS
BONDING
CASTING
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
ECONOMICS
FABRICATION
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
INJECTION
IRRADIATION
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NICKEL ALLOYS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM ALLOYS
PRESSURE
RODS
ULTRASONICS
ZIRCALOY