Patent ID: 6235223
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G21C,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for producing a sintered nuclear fuel body containing (U, Pu)O.sub.2 mixed crystals, which comprises:adding at least one powdered substance selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, niobium oxide, chromium oxide, vanadium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, chromium hydroxide, aluminum monostearate, aluminum distearate and aluminum tristearate as an additive to powdered starting materials of uranium dioxide UO.sub.2+X and plutonium dioxide PuO.sub.2 ;grinding the starting materials;compressing the ground starting materials into a body; andsintering the body at a sintering temperature of at least 1400.degree. C. in a hydrogen-containing sintering atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure of no higher than 10.sup.-10 bar resulting in mixed (U, Pu)O.sub.2 crystals having a mean particle size in a range from 7.5 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m.