Sintered polycrystalline neutron-absorbent bodies comprising lanthanide rare-earth oxides and same water stabilized with a 4A-group metal oxide.

摘要

A lanthanide oxide selected from the group consisting of dysprosium oxide, erbium oxide, europium oxide, gadolium oxide and samarium oxide is formed into a compact and sintered to produce a body useful as a control rod material in a water cooled nuclear reactor. The lanthanide oxide is preferably combined with a corrosion stabilizing group 4A metal oxide such as hafnium oxide.