University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated

Edward McKenna, Iii

Ronald Howard Baney

Ghatu Subhash

James S Tulenko

Lihao Ge

Sunghwan Yeo

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600° C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UOand a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.

High density UOand high thermal conductivity UOcomposites by spark plasma sintering (SPS)

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600&#xb0; C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UOand a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Edward McKenna, Iii