Characterization of (UCe)O/sub 2/ pellets prepared by the sol-gel microsphere pelletization process

Journal Article · Sat Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1987 · Metallography; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0026-0800(87)90061-9· OSTI ID:6502189

Ganguly, C; Linke, U; Kaiser, E

Sol-gel microsphere pelletization (SGMP) is an advanced concept of dust-free and remote fabrication of highly radiotoxic mixed uranium plutonium oxide fuel pellets for liquid-metal-cooled fast-breeder reactors. In the present investigation, cerium was used to simulate plutonium. Several batches of ''porous: and ''nonporous'' calcined (U/sub 0.7/Ce/sub 0.3/)O/sub 2/ microspheres were produced from gel microspheres prepared by the external gelation of uranium (EGU) process. The calcined microspheres were pelletized and sintered using different pressing and sintering parameters. The sintered pellets were characterized with respect to density, open and closed porosity, microstructure (including pore and grain structures) and micro-homogeneity in terms of cerium distribution. The pellets prepared from porous microspheres could be sintered to high density (greater than or equal to96% TD) at a relatively low temperature (less than or equal to 1773 K) and had an excellent microstructure.

• Research Organization: Radiometallurgy Div., Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay 40085
• OSTI ID: 6502189
• Journal Information: Metallography; (United States), Journal Name: Metallography; (United States) Vol. 20:1; ISSN MEIJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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& Refractories-- Preparation & Fabrication
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
BREEDER REACTORS
CALCINATION
CERIUM COMPOUNDS
CERIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DECOMPOSITION
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FABRICATION
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL PELLETS
GELATION
GRAIN SIZE
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MOLDING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PELLETIZING
PELLETS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
POROSITY
PYROLYSIS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
REACTORS
SIMULATION
SINTERING
SIZE
SPHERES
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM OXIDES