Nuclear fuel
This patent describes a process for producing a sintered uranium dioxide body useful as nuclear fuel wherein thy dioxide grains have an average grain size ranging from about 30 microns to about 80 microns and wherein at least about 99% by volume of the uranium dioxide grains are each coated with glassy aluminosilicate phase leaving no significant portion thereof exposed. The body having a porosity ranging from about 2% by volume to less that about 10% by volume. The process consists of providing uranium dioxide powder containing a fissionable substance; providing a sintering agent consisting essentially of from about 10 weight % to about 60 weight % Al{sub 2}0{sub 3} balance Si0{sub 2}; admixing the sintering agent with the uranium dioxide powder; forming the resulting mixture into a compact; sintering the compact at a temperature at which the sintering agent forms a liquid phase to produce a sintered product having the average grain size; and cooling the product to produce the sintered body.
- Assignee:
- General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4869866
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-123616A; TRN: 90-008861
- OSTI ID:
- 7159384
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 20 Nov 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
URANIUM DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
GRAIN SIZE
NUCLEAR FUELS
SILICON OXIDES
SINTERING
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ENERGY SOURCES
FABRICATION
FUELS
MATERIALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTOR MATERIALS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SIZE
SYNTHESIS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM OXIDES
050700* - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties