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Title: FUEL ELEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE PEBBLE BED REACTOR. Phase II Summary Report, November 1, 1959 to October 31, 1960

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4841178· OSTI ID:4841178

Coatings on the fuel element surface and coatings on individual fuel particles are being investigated for retaining fission products in fuel for the Pebble Bed Reacter. Ten fuel element specimens with surface coatings were subjected to varying amounts of high level irradiation. Cracks or pinholes were found in 6 of the coatings. Evidence indicated that the graphite matrix contributed to most of the failures. Release factors of the order of 10/sup -9/ for the Si--SiC coating under high-level irradiation existed for a period of about one month, however. The pyrolytic carbon coating showed some promise as a fission product barrier in several neutron activation tests. Fourteen batches of UO/sub 2/ particles were coated with A1/sub 2/O/sub 3/ by the vapor deposition process. Tests showed that this coating is an excellent barrier to fission products. In pyrolytic carbon-coated UC/sub 2/ particles there is no temperature limitation due to reaction between the particle coating and the graphite matrix. (M.C.G.)

Research Organization:
Sanderson and Porter, New York
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AT(30-1)-2378
NSA Number:
NSA-15-028815
OSTI ID:
4841178
Report Number(s):
NYO-9062
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English