Fabrication of thorium bearing carbide fuels

Patent · Tue Apr 14 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6311608

Gutierrez, R L; Herbst, R J; Johnson, K W

Thorium-uranium carbide and thorium-plutonium carbide fuel pellets have been fabricated by the carbothermic reduction process. Temperatures of 1750/sup 0/C. And 2000/sup 0/C. Were used during the reduction cycle. Sintering temperatures of 1800* C. And 2000* C. Were used to prepare fuel pellet densities of 87% >94% of theoretical, respectively. The process allows the fabrication of kilogram quantities of fuel with good reproducibility of chemicals and phase composition. Methods employing liquid techniques that form carbide microspheres or alloying-techniques which form alloys of thorium-uranium or thorium-plutonium suffer from limitation on the quantities processed of because of criticality concerns and lack of precise control of process conditions, respectively.

• Assignee: Department of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4261935
• OSTI ID: 6311608
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360201 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Preparation & Fabrication
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FABRICATION
FUEL PELLETS
MOLDING
PELLETIZING
PELLETS
PLUTONIUM CARBIDES
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
REDUCTION
SINTERING
THORIUM CARBIDES
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM COMPOUNDS