Manufacture of sintered duplex nuclear fuel pellet by using first powder composed of uranium oxide or uranium oxide-erbium oxide, and a second powder composed of uranium oxide-gadolinium oxide and a sintering additive

摘要

A sintered duplex nuclear fuel pellet is manufactured by: (i) preparing first powder composed of a material such as uranium oxide or uranium oxide-erbium oxide, and a second powder composed of uranium oxide-gadolinium oxide and a sintering additive; (ii) producing a duplex compact comprising annular outer portion composed of first powder and cylindrical inner portion composed of second powder; and (iii) sintering the duplex compact under reducing gas atmosphere. Fabrication of a sintered duplex nuclear fuel pellet comprises preparing a first powder composed of a material such as uranium oxide or uranium oxide-erbium oxide, and a second powder composed of uranium oxide-gadolinium oxide and a sintering additive; producing a duplex compact consisting of an annular outer portion composed of the first powder and a cylindrical inner portion composed of the second powder; and sintering the duplex compact under a reducing gas atmosphere. The sintering additive contains 0.001-2 wt.% manganese.