Melting Temperature of Irradiated UO2 and UO2-2wt%Gd2O3 Fuel Pellets up to Burnup of about 30 GWd/tU

摘要

Melting temperature of UO2 and UO2-2W/OGd2O3 fuels irradiated in a commercial LWR were determined by a thermal arrest technique in a burnup range up to approximately 30 GWd/tU.No decrease in the melting temperature was observed on both UO2 and UO2-2W/0Gd2O3 fuels with increment of burnup to 30 GWd/tU. It was also found that the Gd2O3 addition below 2W/O has no influence on the melting temperature.