Method of making stable UO.sub.2 fuel pellets

Details Method of making stable UO.sub.2 fuel pellets Method of making stable UO.sub.2 fuel pellets

1981-10-02

1984-02-07

Sebastian, Leland A.

Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes

Shaping or treating radioactive material

252640, 376418, 423261, G21C 2100

Patent

active

044302762

ABSTRACT:
A method is disclosed for producing a dimensionally stable UO.sub.2 fuel pellet of large grain mole %, and relatively large pore size. A dopant containing an element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, and mixtures thereof is added to a highly sinterable UO.sub.2 powder, which is a UO.sub.2 powder that is sinterable to at least 97% theoretical density at 1600.degree. C. in one hour, and the UO.sub.2 powder can then be formed into fuel pellets. Alternatively, the dopant can be added at a step in the process of producing ammonium diuranate. The ammonium diuranate is collected with about 0.05 to about 1.7 mole%, based on UO.sub.2, of a compound containing said element. That mixture is then calcined to produce UO.sub.2 and the UO.sub.2 is formed into a fuel pellet. The addition of the dopant can also be made at the hydrolysis stage in the manufacture of UO.sub.2 by a dry conversion process.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3715273 (1973-02-01), Rigby et al.
patent: 3923933 (1975-12-01), Lay
patent: 4117083 (1978-09-01), Maas, Jr.
patent: 4119559 (1978-10-01), Maas, Jr.
Raven, "Gas Retentive Annular Fuel Pellets Palliative or Panacea for L.R.W?", presented to the American Ceramic Society, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 1979, 19 pages.

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