General Atomic Company

Roy G Cooper

David F Leary

Gary N Miertschin

Dwight E Davis

Albert Stevens Ballard

Nuclear fuel rods are manufactured utilizing a graphite flour-pitch matrix formulation containing an additive. The matrix formulation has a decreased viscosity at fabrication temperatures which permits manufacture of the fuel rods with lower fabrication pressures. Also, the matrix formulation does not cause the fuel rod to adhere or bond to the fuel element during heat treatment of the fuel rod in the fuel element. The nuclear fuel rods are suitable for use in high temperature gas cooled nuclear reactors.

Manufacture of nuclear fuel compacts

A mold cavity is only partially filled with nuclear fuel particles and is closed. The volume of the cavity is then reduced until the fuel particles substantially fill the mold cavity. The mold may be heated and a fluid solidifiable binder injected into the mold cavity to fill the interstices between the fuel particles while the cavity volume is further decreased during injection of the binder to avoid formation of voids. Flow of excess binder through an upper vent passage assures complete filling of the cavity.

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Rancho Santa Fe, CA, United States of America

Roy G Cooper