DEVELOPMENT OF PLUTONIUM-BEARING FUEL MATERIALS. Progress Report, October 1 through December 31, 1962

Technical Report · Thu Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1963

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4747237· OSTI ID:4747237

Puechl, K H

Powder characteristics of PuO/sub 2/ prepared by oxalate and hydroxide precipitation were determined. Studies of sintered UO/sub 2/--35 wt% PuO/sub 2/ prepared by coprecipitation revealed that the optimum sintering time is between 1 and 16 hrs. Good spherical shapes were obtained by use of plasma torch on UO/sub 2/--20 wt% PuO/sub 2/ mixtures. Oxalateprecipitated PuO/sub 2/ exhibited good filtration characteristics. Sintering study results using UO/sub 2/--35 wt% PuO/ sub 2/ indicate that this composition does not achieve as high density as those mixtures containing less Pu. The apparatus for measuring thermal conductivity of poor conductors at high temperatures is in operation. Composite pellets of UO/ sub 2/-PuO/sub 2/ incorporating cladding and dispersion element materials are being pressed and sintered to test for possible reactions. Physics studies on near-thermal reactors are being extended to higher Pu loadings. (J.R.D.)

• Research Organization: Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp., Apollo, Penna.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-016524
• OSTI ID: 4747237
• Report Number(s): NUMEC-P-103
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DISPERSIONS
FUEL CANS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROXIDES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MIXING
OXALATES
PELLETS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
POWDERS
PRECIPITATION
PREPARATION
QUANTITY RATIO
SINTERING
SPHERES
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
URANIUM DIOXIDE