Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of fabricating a fuel rod, comprising the step of providing an effective amount of a metal oxide in the fuel rod to cause generation of steam and mitigate secondary hydriding. 2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition of the metal oxide is such that if hydrogen fraction is above the equilibrium condition for the a metal/metal oxide couple, a back reaction occurs between the hydrogen and the metal oxide to generate steam. claim 1 3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from oxides of iron, nickel, tin, bismuth, copper, colbalt, chromium, manganese and combinations of such oxides. claim 1 4. A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the metal oxide is bismuth oxide. claim 3 5. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is present in an amount ranging from 2 up to 10 grams per fuel rod. claim 1 6. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is present as a coating on an interior surface of cladding of the fuel rod. claim 1 7. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is present as a coating on fuel pellet surfaces. claim 1 8. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is present as individual pellets of a fuel pellet stack, or as wafers. claim 1 9. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the individual pellets or wafers are between fuel pellets. claim 8 10. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the individual pellets or wafers are at the top of the fuel pellet stack. claim 8 11. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the individual pellets or wafers are at the bottom of the fuel pellet stack. claim 8 12. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the individual pellets or wafers are at the top and bottom of the fuel pellet stack. claim 8 13. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is within a container. claim 1 14. A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the metal oxide is present as a powder or pellet within said container. claim 13 15. A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said container is at the bottom of a fuel pellet stack. claim 13 16. A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said container is at the top of a fuel pellet stack. claim 13 17. A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said container is at the top and bottom of a fuel pellet stack. claim 13 18. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is distributed intermittently along the fuel rod. claim 1 19. A fuel rod fabricated according to the method of  claim 1 . claim 1