IRRADIATION BEHAVIOR OF ThO$sub 2$-UO$sub 2$ FUELS

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 EST 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4223205· OSTI ID:4223205

Kittel, J H

ThO/sub 2/-UO/sub 2/ fuels have been studied because of certain advantages possessed by this type of fuel over UO/sub 2/. Pellets of ThO/sub 2/- UO/sub 2/ have been found to be highly stable dimensionally under irradiation. Various experimental assemblies which have been irradiated have included Al, Zircaloy, and stainless steel cladding, with the annulus surrounding the pellet filled with air, He, NaK, or Pb. A full-scale core of pellets lead-bonded to Al tube-plates has been used successfully in the Borax-IV reactor. Preliminary defect tests have shown that solid fission products are retained and that only the gaseous products, Xe/sup 138/ and Kr/sup 88/, are detectable in the reactor coolant system. (auth)

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Lemont, Ill.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-023061
• OSTI ID: 4223205
• Report Number(s): TID-7559(Pt.1)(Paper 33)
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Paper 33. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

REACTORS
AIR
ALUMINUM
BONDING
BORAX-4
CANNING
COOLANT LOOPS
DEFECTS
DETECTION
FISSION PRODUCTS
GASES
HELIUM
IRRADIATION
KRYPTON 88
LEAD
MATERIALS TESTING
MIXING
OXIDES
PELLETS
PERFORMANCE
PLATES
POTASSIUM ALLOYS
SODIUM ALLOYS
SOLIDS
STABILITY
STAINLESS STEELS
THORIUM
TUBES
URANIUM DIOXIDE
XENON 138
ZIRCALOY