| abstract |
Nuclear fuel pellets are made by incorporating seed particles, eg. UO2 seed crystals into a matrix of powdered ceramic material having nuclear characteristics, eg. UO2, and annealing. The UO2 seed crystals can be obtained by heating compacts of UO2 powder or presintered material in dry hydrogen above 1750 DEG C, holding at temperature, cooling and sifting to obtain predominantly single crystals which are used as the seed material. The seed material may also be PuO2, a mixture thereof with UO2, or enriched UO2, and the matrix material may be depleted UO2. A two layered pellet may be produced. <IMAGE> |