Patent Number: 059463643
Section: claims

1. A method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel comprised of uranium dioxide, comprising the steps of: heating sintered pellets of uranium dioxide containing fissionable fuel at a temperature of at least about 1700.degree. C. for a period of at least about 24 hours in a controlled atmosphere;  providing and maintaining a partial molar free energy of oxygen greater than about -90 kilocalories per mole; and  determining any density changes in the pellets attributable to the heating for ascertaining the shrinkage potential of the fuel pellets in nuclear reactor service.  heating compacted and sintered pellets fabricated from particulate uranium dioxide containing a silica constituent at a temperature of at least about 1700.degree. C. for a period of at least about 24 hours in a controlled atmosphere containing oxygen which is increased to and maintained at a partial pressure providing a partial mole free energy of the oxygen content greater then -90 kilocalories per mole of oxygen; and  determining any density changes in the pellets attributable to the heating for ascertaining the shrinkage potential of the fuel pellets in nuclear reactor service.  heating compacted and sintered pellets fabricated from particulate uranium dioxide containing a silica constituent at a temperature of at least about 1700.degree. C. up to about 2200.degree. C. for a period of at least about 24 hours in a controlled atmosphere containing oxygen maintained at a partial molar free energy of the oxygen content greater than -90 kilocalories per mole of oxygen; and  determining any density changes in the pellets attributable to the heating for ascertaining the shrinkage potential of the fuel pellets in nuclear reactor service. 2. The method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel of claim 1, wherein the sintered uranium dioxide containing fuel pellet contains a silica-containing additive. 3. The method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel of claim 1, wherein the sintered uranium dioxide containing fuel pellet contains an aluminosilicate compound. 4. The method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel of claim 1, wherein the sintered uranium dioxide containing fuel pellet is fabricated by addition of a silica-containing additive to the uranium dioxide containing particulate material prior to compaction and sintering of the fuel pellet. 5. The method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel of claim 1, wherein the sintered uranium dioxide containing fuel pellet is fabricated by addition of an aluminosilicate clay to the uranium dioxide containing particulate material prior to compaction and sintering of the fuel pellet. 6. The method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel of claim 1, wherein the particulate oxide of uranium undergoing sintering contains a compound which converts to alumina during sintering. 7. The method of for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel of claim 6, wherein the compound which converts to alumina during sintering is selected from aluminum bistearate, diethylaluminum malonate and triphenyl aluminum. 8. The method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel of claim 1, wherein the particulate oxide of uranium undergoing sintering contains a compound which converts to silica during sintering. 9. The method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel of claim 8, wherein the compound which converts to silica during sintering is selected from silicobenzoic acid, triethylphenyl silicane, methyltriphenyl silicane and ethyltriphenyl silicane. 10. A method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel comprising uranium dioxide containing a silica-containing additive which has been compacted into pellets and sintered for the purpose of controlling shrinkage of such fuel pellets during service within a nuclear reactor, comprising the steps of: 11. The method of evaluating the densification characteristics of nuclear reactor fissionable fuel of claim 10, wherein the particulate uranium dioxide containing a silica constituent is heated in an atmosphere containing sufficient oxygen to avoid reduction to SiO and volatilization. 12. A method for evaluating the densification characteristics of fissionable nuclear reactor fuel comprising particulate uranium dioxide containing a silica constituent which has been compacted into pellets and sintered for the purpose of controlling shrinkage of such fuel pellets during service within a nuclear reactor, comprising the steps of: 13. The method of evaluating the densification characteristics of nuclear reactor fissionable fuel of claim 12, wherein the particulate uranium dioxide is fabricated by addition of an aluminosilicate clay or derivative thereof to the uranium dioxide.