Controlled current-rate AC flash sintering of uranium dioxide

Ingraci Neto, Rubens R.; McClellan, Kenneth James; Byler, Darrin David; Kardoulaki, Erofili

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.152780

Title: Controlled current-rate AC flash sintering of uranium dioxide

Journal Article · Thu Jan 14 00:00:00 EST 2021 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.152780· OSTI ID:1762740

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Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Uranium dioxide (UO2) pellets with controlled microstructures were densified up to 93.4% of their theoretical density in less than 25 minutes at a furnace temperature of 873 K, utilizing controlled current-rate alternating current (AC) flash sintering (FS). Using this AC-FS method it was possible to control the sintering rate and thermal gradients, resulting in dense pellets with no appreciable hourglassing and good mechanical integrity. Moreover, the apparent sintering activation energy for FS and for conventionally sintered samples was estimated to be 108 kJ mol^-1 and 380 kJ mol^-1, respectively using the master sintering curve method. The apparent activation energy for FS was remarkably close to those reported in the literature for spark plasma sintering of UO₂. Furthermore, both these field assisted sintering methods utilize fast heating rates and electrical effects that are likely enhancing the grain boundary diffusion mechanism. Finally controlled current-rate AC-FS has been demonstrated as a technological advancement, capable of producing ceramic nuclear fuels in a fraction of the conventional processing time.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1762740

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1776068

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-20-28103; TRN: US2205902

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 547; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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