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Influence of Chemical Composition Variations on Densification During the Sintering of MOX Materials

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Metallurgical and Materials Transactions E

Abstract

The mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX) fabrication process is based on the preparation of UO2 and PuO2 powders. The mixture is pelletized before being sintered at 1973 K (1700 °C) in a reducing atmosphere of Ar/4pctH2/H2O. This paper shows how the densification of MOX fuel is affected during sintering by the moisture content of the gas, the plutonium content of the fuel, and the carbon impurity content in the raw materials. MOX densification can be monitored through dilatometric measurements and gas releases can be continuously analyzed during sintering in terms of their quantity and quality. Variations in the oxygen content in the fuel can be continuously recorded by coupling the dilatometer furnace with an oxygen measurement at the gas outlet. Any carbon-bearing species released, such as CO, can be also linked to densification phenomena when a gas chromatograph is installed at the outlet of the dilatometer. Recommendations on the choice of sintering atmosphere that best optimizes the fuel characteristics have been given on the basis of the results reported in this paper.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEA Marcoule, DEN, DTEC, SECA, LFC, 30207, Bagnols-Sur-Cèze, France

    S. Vaudez (Senior Expert) & C. Marlot (R&D Engineer)

  2. CEA Cadarache, DEN, DEC, SESC, LLCC, 13108, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France

    J. Lechelle (Senior Expert)

Authors
  1. S. Vaudez
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  2. C. Marlot
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  3. J. Lechelle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Vaudez.

Additional information

Manuscript submitted December 23, 2015.

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Vaudez, S., Marlot, C. & Lechelle, J. Influence of Chemical Composition Variations on Densification During the Sintering of MOX Materials. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions E 3, 107–111 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40553-016-0074-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40553-016-0074-0

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