| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for sintering a compacted powder of at least one oxide of a metal selected from actinide and lanthanide, said process comprising the following successive steps, carried out in an oven and under an atmosphere comprising an inert gas, dihydrogen and water: (a) a temperature rise from an initial temperature Ti to a bearing temperature TP (b) a temperature hold at the bearing temperature TP, and ( c) a decrease in temperature from the TP plateau temperature to a final temperature TF, in which the ratio P (H2) / P (H2O) is such that: - 500 <P (H2) / P (H2O) ≤ 50000, during step (a), of Ti until reaching a first intermediate temperature Ti1 between 1000 ° C and TP, and - P (H2) / P (H2O) ≤ 500, at least during the step (c) from a second intermediate temperature Ti2 between TP and 1000 ° C until reaching TF. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a pellet of at least one oxide of a metal chosen from an actinide and a lanthanide and to the use of such a pellet as a nuclear fuel. |