United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

Jim W Isaacs

Peter W Sutcliffe

Colin E Lyon

Robert L Nelson

Brian Stringer

There is disclosed a method for the preparation of a shaped body which includes the step of cold pressing a material to give the shaped body, wherein the material has been prepared by means of a gelation process and not substantially comminuted prior to cold pressing. The shaped body can be heated subsequently to pressing to produce a sintered shaped body. Preferably the material for pressing, prepared by a gelation process and not substantially comminuted, is a selected physical configuration.

Preparation of shaped bodies

There is disclosed a method for the preparation of a shaped body which includes pressing a powder to give a 'green' shaped body wherein the powder has been made by comminuting a material prepared by means of a gelation process, the material prior to comminuting being of a selected physical configuration. The invention finds application in relation to the handling and transportation of nuclear fuels and nuclear fuel materials. Thus, a material prepared by means of gelation process can be transported and handled in an environmentally desirable, substantially dust-free form (e.g. spherical particles) and then comminuted to produce a powder for pressing into a shaped nuclear fuel body.

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Harwell, United Kingdom

Jim W Isaacs