Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

/sup 238/Pu fuel form processes bimonthly report, May-June 1979

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5649693· OSTI ID:5649693
Progress in the Savannah River /sup 238/Pu Fuel Form Program is summarized. Full-scale fabrication tests of General-Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) fuel forms continued in the SRL Plutonium Experimental Facility (PEF) as four additional pellets (GPHS Pellets 5-8) were hot pressed. GPHS pellets fabricated by the reference process were dimensionally and structurally stable during and after final heat treatment. Microstructural studies confirmed that centerline GPHS process conditions produce pellets with a homogeneous microstructure and a uniform density. Because of the potential for excessive metal creep in existing furnace racks, the racks were considered unacceptable for GPHS fuel production in the PuFF. To eliminate metal creep, racks containing some ceramic components were designed to operate at 1600/sup 0/C in an oxygen atmosphere for more than 100 h. The four-key variables previously identified (shard sintering temperature, hot press load, hot press temperature, and load ramp) were found to correlate with production sphere fracture tendency and bulk density.
Research Organization:
Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-09-0001
OSTI ID:
5649693
Report Number(s):
DPST-79-128-5/6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English