Fabrication of UO₂-Mo composite fuel with enhanced thermal conductivity from sol-gel feedstock

Journal Article · 06 April 2019 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.04.011 · OSTI ID:1528722

Finkeldei, Sarah C.  ^[1]; Kiggans, Jr., James O. ^[1]; Hunt, Rodney Dale  ^[1]; Nelson, Andrew T.  ^[1]; Terrani, Kurt A.  ^[1]

---

1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

In this study, fabrication of monolithic UO₂ and UO₂-Mo composites from Mo metal powder feedstock and UO₃ spheres derived from internal gelation was explored. The addition of 10 vol% Mo as a secondary phase to UO₂ led to an increase of up to 30% in thermal conductivity compared to syntheses in which only pure UO₂ was used. Lastly, using coarse and fine Mo metal powder feedstock led to different microstructures, influencing the thermal conductivity of the resulting composites.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1528722
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1776014
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 520, Issue C; ISSN 0022-3115
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English