Sintered UO
2 pellets of high densities are used as fuel for water-cooled reactors. Relations between physical properties … such as bulk density, tap density, specific surface area, average particle size and compatibilities or sinterabilities of as-received, oxidation-reduction treated or ball-milled powders were examined. In these experiments, powders were compacted at 2-7 t/cm
2 and were sintered for 1-10 hours at temperatures from 1400°C to 1650°C in an atmosphere of cracked ammonia.
The results are summarized below :
1) The specific surface areas of UO
2 powders increased with increasing oxidation-reduction cycles ; however only small change was observed in the ball-milled UO
2 powders.
2) In contrast to the ball-milled UO
2 powder, the green density of the oxidation-reduction treated UO
2 decreased with increasing specific surface area. Ball-milling and oxidation-reduction treatment improved the sinterability.
3) The activation energy of the densification of UO
2 during sintering in cracked ammonia was calculated.
4) It was found that the densification factors are proportional to the specific surface area of as-received or activation treated powders.
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