Patent ID: 6808656
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of producing a nuclear fuel sintered body, which comprises:producing a powder containing a fissile heavy metal oxide, the powder including a sinter-active heavy metal oxide powder obtained predominantly from a dry-chemical conversion process; adding a dopant in powder form having a particle size substantially of less than 5 &mgr;m to the powder for increasing a grain size and a plasticity of the sintered body, the dopant containing an iron compound and being added such that a proportion by weight of the iron compound in relation to a proportion by weight of the heavy metal oxide in the nuclear fuel sintered body is at least 100 ppm; and sintering the powder substantially at temperatures of between 1500Â° C. and 1900Â° C. and in an atmosphere having a pressure substantially at standard pressure for a duration of between 2 and 8 hours to form the nuclear fuel sintered body.