Research on preparation technology, sintering performance, microstructure of UO2−x fuel pellets. Issue 3 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Hui; Liu, Jinhong; Sun, Yongduo; Hong, Xiaofeng; Huang, Huawei; Yin, Rongcai; Zhang, Yong; Yin, Changgeng
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Volume 35:Issue 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 1081
• Page End: 1087
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Ceramic materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Matériaux céramiques -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Ceramic materials; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2014.10.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-2219

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <p id="spar0005">Reducing O/U of UO_{2±<italic>x</italic>} fuel can increase the compatibility of fuel pellets and cladding at high temperatures. The preparation of UO_{2−<italic>x</italic>} fuel pellets by powder metallurgy process is discussed, O/U of fuel pellets is tested by thermogravimetric test (TG), fuel pellet density is measured by water immersion method, the phase change process of compact is tested by differential thermal analyzer (DTA), the quality change process of fuel compact is tested with TG curve, the metallographic microstructure and phase structure of the fuel pellets are observed by optical microscope (OM) and XRD. Experimental results show that through powder metallurgy technology UO₂ and U are mixed and pressed to be compacts, which are sintered under strong reducing atmosphere at 1750 °C. Then UO_{2−<italic>x</italic>} pellets can be prepared, whose O/U ≤ 1.995, relative theoretical density is 97.5% TD and the average grain size is 13–18 μm. After sintered at 1750 °C, UO_{2−<italic>x</italic>} pellets show good microstructures and uniform phases.</p> </sec> </abstract>