Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Commissariat &#xc0; L'&#xc9;nergie Atomique Et Aux &#xc9;nergies Alternatives

Philippe Sornay

Meryl Brothier

Méryl Brothier

Eric Bertrand

Arnaud Benedetti

A device for transferring a given powder or a mixture of given powders contained in a container including a side wall and at least one discharge opening, the container with axisymmetric shape having an axis of rotation being arranged in the transfer device such that the discharge opening thereof is located in a lower portion of the container, the transfer device including rotating the container about the axis thereof, on which the discharge opening is located and control for controlling the rotation such that the to rotation imposes on at least one portion of the side wall of the container, referred to as movable portion, a first moving phase wherein an acceleration no lower than a minimum acceleration is capable of causing the powder to slide relative to the movable portion.

Powder-transfer device with improved flow

In one embodiment of the present invention, a process for manufacturing at least one particulate material is disclosed, the process including the following consecutive steps of: a) introducing into a vibrating grinder at least two powders each comprising UO, provided by two different synthesis routes and of close specific surface area; b) shaking the powders into the grinder so as to form a particulate material, the grinding intensity being sufficient to break up the agglomerates and the aggregates in the powders without at the same time breaking up the crystallites in the powders, and the grinding energy being such that all of the agglomerates and aggregates are destroyed. One embodiment of the present invention also concerns a particulate material obtained by this process.

Process for the manufacture of a particulate material and particulate material obtained by this process

This invention relates to a process for manufacturing a dense material containing UO, comprising: a) introducing at least two powders each comprising uranium dioxide UOinto a vibrating grinder, wherein at least two powders are provided by two different synthesis routes and each powder has a specific surface area close to that of any other uranium-dioxide containing powder introduced into said grinder; b) shaking said powders by means of said vibrating grinder so as to form a particulate material, the grinding intensity being sufficient to break up the agglomerates and the aggregates in the powders without at the same time breaking up the crystallites in the powders, and the grinding energy provided to the powders being such that substantially all of the agglomerates and aggregates are destroyed; c) introducing said particulate material into a mould; d) applying a shaping stress to said particulate material in order to obtain a compacted material; e) carrying out the sintering of said compacted material so as to obtain the dense material.

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Manosque, France

Philippe Sornay