Abstract
A series of pyrolysis experiments were performed to determine optimum thermal conditions for the production of high-density gel urania fuel microspheres. Microspheres made with and without organic binders were heated in either air, CO/sub 2/, 96% Ar--4% H/sub 2/, or vacuum; mass spectra of the evolved gaseous decomposition products were recorded over a temperature range of 20 to 750/sup 0/C. Peak heights of significant masses were plotted against temperature. The product gas evolution curve profiles were used to determine plausible decomposition mechanisms. Water and ammonia were the major decomposition products from the microspheres. The concentrations of other organic decomposition products in the mass spectra were a measure of the efficiency of washing and drying of the prepared gels. Results showed that heating the microspheres in air or CO/sub 2/ prior to sintering in argon-hydrogen provided no advantage; the complete heat treatment may be done in argon-hydrogen. The presence of binders in the gels did not adversely affect the pyrolysis of gel urania.
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