General Electric Company

Timothy J Gallivan

Richard P Ringle

John D Connolly, Jr

William J Ward, Iii

Richard I Larson

George L Gaines, Jr

Patricia A Piacente

Harry M Laska

Peter C Smith

A method and binder composition for prolonging the induced plasticity of a particulate ceramic material admixture comprising uranium dioxide and a fugitive binder, and product thereof, for subsequent compaction by compression molding in the manufacture of nuclear fuel pellets. The fugitive binder comprises a reaction product of an amine carbonate or amine carbamate and ammonium oxalate reacted with uranium dioxide at a temperature of at least 65.degree. C. The uranyl oxalate-carbonate reaction product has the composition of (UO.sub.2 (CO.sub.3) (C.sub.2 O.sub.4). 2H.sub.2 O). 2H.sub.2 O.

Method and binder for the manufacture of nuclear fuel pellets, and the

An improved method for compression molding typically brittle, particulate ceramic materials comprising uranium dioxide in the manufacture of nuclear fuel products.

Method for the manufacture of nuclear fuel products

A method for improving the physical properties of pressed bodies or pellets formed of particulate nuclear fuel material containing uranium dioxide. The green or unfired pressed bodies comprise a fugitive binder dispersed through the particulate fuel material.

Method for producing nuclear fuel pellets, and product thereof

A nuclear fuel material green body of density from about 30 to 70% of theoretical density having tensile strenght and plasticity adequate to maintain the integrity of the body during processing leading to ultimate sintered condition is produced by adding an amine carbonate or carbamate or mixture thereof to a particulate mass of the nuclear fuel material under conditions resulting in reaction with the amine compound to form a water-soluble compound effective as a binder for the particulate material.

Method of producing fugitive binder-containing nuclear fuel material

A process for fabricating a body of a nuclear fuel material has the steps of admixing the nuclear fuel material in powder form with a binder of a compound or its hydration products containing ammonium cations and anions selected from the group consisting of carbonate anions, bicarbonate anions, carbamate anions and mixtures of such anions, forming the resulting mixture into a green body such as by die pressing, heating the green body to decompose substantially all of the binder into gases, further heating the body to produce a sintered body, and cooling the sintered body in a controlled atmosphere. Preferred binders used in the practice of this invention include ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate and mixtures thereof. This invention includes a composition of matter in the form of a compacted structure suitable for sintering comprising a mixture of a nuclear fuel material and a binder of a compound or its hydration products containing ammonium cations and anions selected from the group consisting of carbonate anions, bicarbonate anions, carbamate anions and mixtures of such anions.

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Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Timothy J Gallivan