Patent ID: 6221286
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
A process for the preparation of a nuclear fuel material comprising a ceramic material based on UO.sub.2, ThO.sub.2 and/or PuO.sub.2 in which is dispersed at least one metal able to trap oxygen by forming an oxide, whose free formation enthalpy is equal to or below the free formation enthalpy of the superstoichiometric oxide (U, Th)O.sub.2+x and/or (U,Pu)O.sub.2+x with x such that 0<x.ltoreq.0.01 at the temperature reached in the nuclear reactor, wherein a mixture of the ceramic material powder and the metal able to trap the oxygen is prepared, the mixture is shaped by cold compression and the thus shaped powder is sintered under a dry hydrogen atmosphere.