²³⁸Pu fuel form processes. Bimonthly report, July-August 1979

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5601744· OSTI ID:5601744

Folger, R. L.

Progress in the Savannah River ²³⁸Pu Fuel Form Program is reported. Full-scale fabrication tests of General-Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) fuel forms continued in the SRL Plutonium Experimental Facility (PEF) as GPHS Pellet 9 was hot pressed and GPHS Pellets 8 and 9 underwent final heat treatment. Microstructural analysis of GPHS Pellets 6 and 7 showed that: long-term (5 weeks) storage of as-pressed pellets leads to complete reoxidation and microcracking; use of MHW feed (rather than GPHS grog feed) leads to substantial density gradients in GPHS pellets; and thermal cycling of GPHS pellets fabricated using centerline conditions does not cause microcracking. Ceramic furnace hearths for use in the vertical process furnaces of the Plutonium Fuel Form (PuFF) Facility were successfully fabricated at SRL.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Lab.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-09-0001
• OSTI ID: 5601744
• Report Number(s): DPST--79-128-7/8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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