TY - JOUR
T1 - Flash sintering of UO2 pellets for nuclear fuel and wasteform applications
AU - Harrison, R. W.
AU - Morgan, J.
AU - Buckley, J.
AU - Bostanchi, S.
AU - Pearmain, D.
AU - Abram, T.
AU - Goddard, D.
AU - Barron, N.
PY - 2024/10/18
Y1 - 2024/10/18
N2 - Flash sintering (FS) has been shown to enhance the sintering kinetics in UO2. Using a bespoke AC-FS furnace, high density UO2 pellets, >95% theoretical density (TD) have been produced followed by scale up and Gd2O3 doping trials. Increasing furnace temperature during FS increases pellet density to a plateau, however, increasing hold time and maximum current both increased the density of UO2 samples to >95% TD and grain size to ~4 µm, close to conventional sintering (CS). The optimised FS program reduced sintering temperature and cycle time by ~50% compared to CS. Scale up trials showed >96%TD pellets could be achieved for 11.3 and 14.125 mm diameter green bodies, demonstrating typical fuel pellet diameters are feasible with FS. Gd doping experiments showed with 1 wt.% Gd2O3 addition, a ~92%TD pellet with ~2 µm grain size was obtainable, highlighting further optimisation is required for mixed oxide (MOx) materials.
AB - Flash sintering (FS) has been shown to enhance the sintering kinetics in UO2. Using a bespoke AC-FS furnace, high density UO2 pellets, >95% theoretical density (TD) have been produced followed by scale up and Gd2O3 doping trials. Increasing furnace temperature during FS increases pellet density to a plateau, however, increasing hold time and maximum current both increased the density of UO2 samples to >95% TD and grain size to ~4 µm, close to conventional sintering (CS). The optimised FS program reduced sintering temperature and cycle time by ~50% compared to CS. Scale up trials showed >96%TD pellets could be achieved for 11.3 and 14.125 mm diameter green bodies, demonstrating typical fuel pellet diameters are feasible with FS. Gd doping experiments showed with 1 wt.% Gd2O3 addition, a ~92%TD pellet with ~2 µm grain size was obtainable, highlighting further optimisation is required for mixed oxide (MOx) materials.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2024.116993
DO - 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2024.116993
M3 - Article
SN - 0955-2219
JO - Journal of the European Ceramic Society
JF - Journal of the European Ceramic Society
ER -