Abstract
Metallurgical studies have been carried out to develop fuel dispersions that would permit the use of L ow E nrichment U ranium (LEU ~ 20% 235-U) instead of the H igh E nrichment U ranium (HEU ~ 93% 235-U) used uptil now in Research and Test Reactors. Uranium silicides are considered to be the prime candidates as dispersants in an Al-matrix; U 6Fe being a potential alternative on account of its higher U-density. The paper describes the preparation of the compounds U 3Si, U 3Si 2 and U 6Fe and their powder metallurgical processing to miniature fuel element plates with U-densities up to 7.0 Mg U m −3 in the dispersion. The reaction behaviour under equilibrium conditions at 873 K in the relevant portions of the ternary U-Si-Al and U-Fe-Al systems is described along with the dimensional changes that are associated with reaction after prolonged heat treatment of miniature fuel plates. The exothermic reactions that could occur in the dispersions under off-normal conditions at temperatures up to clad melting are described and discussed.
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