Applicability of CeO2 as a surrogate for PuO2 in a MOX fuel development

作者：Kim Han Soo^*; Joung Chang Yong; Lee Byung Ho; Oh Jae Yong; Koo Yang Hyun; Heimgartner Peter

来源：Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2008, 378(1): 98-104.

DOI：10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.05.003

The applicability of cerium oxide, as a surrogate for plutonium oxide, was evaluated for the fabrication process of a MOX (mixed oxide) fuel pellet. Sintering behavior, pore former effect and thermal properties of the Ce-MOX were compared with those of Pu-MOX. Compacting parameters of the Pu-MOX powder were optimized by a simulation using Ce-MOX powder. Sintering behavior of Ce-MOX was very similar to that of Pu-MOX, in particular for the oxidative sintering process. The sintered density of both pellets was decreased with the same slope with an increasing DA (dicarbon amide) content. Both the Ce-MOX and Plu-MOX pellets which were fabricated by an admixing of 0.05 wt% DA and sintering in a CO2 atmosphere had the same average grain size of 11 mu m and a density of 95%T.D. The thermal conductivity of the Pu-MOX was a little higher than that of the Ce-MOX at a lower temperature but both conductivities became closer to each other above 900 K. Cerium oxide was found to be a useful surrogate to simulate the Pu behavior in the MOX fuel fabrication.

• 出版日期2008-8-15