A process for the preparation of a core made of sintered uranium dioxide fuel

摘要

Nuclear fuel is produced by pressing UO2 powder to green bodies and then sintering them at a temp. below approx. 1500 degrees C. to the desired density, while the oxygen-uranium ratio of the bodies is maintained at least approx. 2.005. A uranium dioxide sintered product is manufactured in an oven at a relatively low temp. and without the necessity of an additional combustion step which is required with prior art sintering processes with vapour atmosphere. This results in the drawbacks of prior art process being avoided. The uranium dioxide sintered product complies with the requirements for nuclear reactors.