/sup 238/Pu fuel form processes. Savannah River Laboratory monthly report

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7260959· OSTI ID:7260959

Progress in the Savannah River /sup 238/Pu Fuel Form Program is summarized. New impurity operating goals were established for H-Area B-Line /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ which meet all multihundred watt (MHW) heat source requirements. All /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ produced in H-Area B-Line in 1976 met the proposed goal limits. Density scans of MHW pellets showed fewer localized density variations exist for pellets made from oxalate-based shards than for pellets made from larger, hydroxide-based shards. Fifteen pellets hot-pressed from feed made from five different flowsheets were all within a density range of 5 percent. /sup 239/PuO/sub 2/ pellets with acceptable densities and microstructures were prepared directly from feed produced by the Pu(IV), reverse-strike, oxalate technique. This process is simpler than the present MHW process, generates few respirable fines, and produces an improved microstructure. The hot press for the PEF performed satisfactorily during acceptance tests at the vendor's shop.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, S.C. (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7260959
• Report Number(s): DPST-76-128-6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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