Study on the carbon dispersion in (UO3+C) microsphere prepared by internal gelation process

摘要

An internal gelation process has been adopted for the preparation of carbon-dispersed UO(sub 3) microspheres which will be used for preparing uranium nitride microsphere fuels by the carbothermic reduction. The proper conditions for homogeneous carbon dispersion in UO(sub 3) microspheres were investigated. Firstly a range of feed solution compositions for preparing good UO(sub 3) gel spheres was defined by observing the gelation behavior. Within the defined solution compositions carbon-dispersed microspheres were prepared. The distribution of carbon in microspheres were analyzed. The production of good carbon-dispersed microspheres was possible, and the EPMA analysis showed that most of the carbon was evenly distributed in the microspheres, although large carbon-rich aggregates were sparsely existent. (author). (ERA citation 19:008187)