Recent progress of the efttra research on fuels and targets for transmutation of actinides and fission products

摘要

The progress of the irradiation programme of EFTTRA is described. Firstly, the results of the recent transmutation test for technetium in the HFR are discussed. In the so-called T2 test, a target of metallic technetium was transmuted to an extent of about 16percent. Post-irradiation examination of the target revealed an excellent in-pile behaviour. Secondly, the investigations of concepts for inert matrix fuel (IMF) are discussed. This activity is ongoing and only preliminary results on the radiation stability of candidate inert matrix materials are available. Thirdly, the results of the T4 test, the transmutation of americium in a spinel-based fuel (microdispersed), are presented. It is shown that extensive swelling of the fuel took place, probably due to the damage of the matrix by fission product and/or accumulation of helium as a result of alpha decay. A more promising IMF-concept for transmutation of americium, based on a macrodispersion of a host phase in the inert matrix is discussed.