Abstract Scope |
In this talk, recent advancements of using spark plasma sintering (SPS) in fabricating advanced fuels will be reviewed, and their fuel behaviors are characterized with the focus on their thermal-mechanical properties, oxidation resistance and accident tolerance. The sintering fuels by SPS include monolithic UO2 and doped UO2 fuels with well controlled microstructure, grain size and porosity across multiple length scales from nano-metered to micron-sizes, and the impact of the microstructure on the fuel properties is discussed within the context of validating advanced fuel performance models. In addition, composite UO2 fuels are fabricated in which heterogeneous secondary phases are used as additives to improve thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the composite. High density uranium nitrides and silicide fuels fabricated by SPS will also be discussed with controlled microstructure and enhanced oxidation/corrosion resistance, and their impacts on design of advanced technology fuels will be highlighted. |