GRAPHITE FUEL STUDIES. PART 3. COMPACTION OF GRAPHITE AND MIXTURES OF GRAPHITE AND FISSILE AND FERTILE MATERIALS

Technical Report · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4833290

May, J R

Sound high density cylinders of graphite were made by cold compacting finely ground artificial graphite at pressures of 60 tsi. Cylinders could be made only if the graphite used was 50% finer than 10 microns and freshly ground. Storage of the powder in moist atmospheres or heating of the powder reduced its compacting properties. Uranium and thorium metal powders and uranium and thorium oxide up to 60 wt % equivalent metals were added to the graphite and sound cylinders made from the mixtures. The compacts were heated to high temperatures (up to 2800 deg C) to convert the metals or oxides to carbides which rapidly hydrolyze in moist air. Measurements of compressive strength and density changes and investigation of the properties of the compacts of thermal cycling were made. Compacts made from metal powders are considered satisfactory for use as fuel for a High Temperature Gas Cooled reactor system provided their irradiation stability is satisfactory. (auth)

• Research Organization: Australia. Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment, Lucas Heights, new South Wales
• NSA Number: NSA-16-002666
• OSTI ID: 4833290
• Report Number(s): AAEC/E-61
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
CARBIDES
COLD WORKING
COMPACTING
CYLINDERS
DENSITY
FABRICATION
FAILURES
FERTILE MATERIALS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUELS
GAS COOLANT
GRAIN SIZE
GRAPHITE
GRAPHITE MODERATOR
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HTGR
HUMIDITY
HYDROLYSIS
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURED VALUES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
OXIDES
POWDERS
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
STABILITY
THERMAL STRESSES
THORIUM
THORIUM CARBIDES
THORIUM OXIDES
URANIUM
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM OXIDES
VARIATIONS