Abstract
A mixed ceramic composite composed of UO2–UN was studied to increase both the thermal conductivity and uranium density of the currently used UO2 pellet. UN powder was synthesized by hydriding and then nitriding spherical U metal powders. Disk-shaped mixed UO2–UN composites were fabricated by hot pressing UO2–UN powder mixtures within a temperature range of 1300 °C–1590 °C. A phase analysis was conducted using X-ray diffraction and a SEM analysis indicated that the sintered composite consists mainly of a mixture of UO2 and UN phases. Compared to pure UO2, the UO2-33vol% UN composite showed an increase in uranium density of 13% (10.91 g/cm3) and an increase in thermal conductivity of up to 100% (8.16 W/m k at 800 °C).
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