Low-temperature sintering of (U,Pu)O2 MOX in mild oxidative conditions
Jacobus Boshoven (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
Jean François Vigier (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
Philipp Pöml (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
Abibatou Ndiaye (MELOX)
Bertrand Morel (ORANO Support)
Rudy J.M. Konings (European Commission - Joint Research Centre, TU Delft - RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials)
Karin Popa (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
Marco Cologna (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
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Abstract
We compare typical reductive sintering conditions for U, Pu mixed oxides (4 h at 1700 °C in Ar/6 % H2 + 1200 ppm H2O) with lower temperature and mildly oxidative conditions (2 h at 1200 °C in CO/CO2 = 1/9) and report on the resulting microstructures and homogeneity. We show that lower temperature and mildly oxidative conditions, without cover gas change, can give close-to stoichiometric, crack-free MOX pellets with a relative density of ∼ 95 %, and we propose ways to improve the homogenisations of PuO2 and UO2 and increase the grain size.
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