Study on Preparation and First-Stage Sintering Kinetics of ThO2-UO2 Pellets Made by Sol-Gel Microspheres Technique |
| A.S. Sökücüa, M. Bedirb, M.T. Aybersa
aÇekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center, 34303, Istanbul, Turkey bDepartment of Physics Engineering, University of Gaziantep, 27310, Gaziantep, Turkey |
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| The sol-gel method, which is among the methods used for the production of ThO2-UO2 mixed oxide fuel pellets, allows a high degree of micro-homogeneity of uranium and thorium in the solution stage. The present study seeks to develop an alternative method in order to produce mixed thorium-uranium dioxide fuel pellets, prepared by internal gelation technique of sol-gel process. The study also aims to investigate shrinkage behavior and first-stage sintering kinetics of pellets compacted in the Ar-5%H2 atmosphere using a dilatometer. The chemical and physical properties such as density, homogeneity, O/M ratio, metallic impurities, unit cell parameters, phase contents and surface area of powders, that have different compositions of thoria-urania, were studied. The influences of sintering parameters on the characteristics of microspheres and on the properties of sintered pellets are discussed. |
DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.127.987 PACS numbers: 82.20.Pm, 81.20.Fw, 81.20.Ev, 81.70.Pg |