Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A nuclear fuel comprising:a fuel element comprising a plurality of tristructural-isotropic fuel particles intermixed in a silicon carbide matrix, wherein the silicon carbide matrix separates at least one of the plurality of tristructural-isotropic fuel particles embedded in the silicon carbide matrix from the other tristructural-isotropic fuel particles embedded in the silicon carbide matrix, wherein the silicon carbide matrix has a density substantially equal to the theoretical density of stoichiometric silicon carbide. 2. The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein each of the tristructural-isotropic fuel particles comprises a fuel kernel disposed substantially at the center and a ceramic layer surrounding the fuel kernel. 3. The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein the fuel element has a shape of a cylindrical pellet. 4. The nuclear fuel of claim 1, further comprising:a tubular enclosure defining an interior space, wherein an outer surface of the tubular enclosure is configured to contact a coolant of a nuclear reactor,wherein the fuel element is disposed in the interior space. 5. The nuclear fuel of claim 4, wherein the tubular enclosure is a metallic cladding tube. 6. The nuclear fuel of claim 1, further comprising a graphite block having one or more holes, wherein the fuel element is disposed inside the one or more holes. 7. The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tristructural-isotropic fuel particles comprise transuranic elements extracted from a spent fuel of a light water reactor. 8. The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tristructural-isotropic fuel particles comprise transuranic elements extracted from a nuclear weapon. 9. A nuclear fuel comprising:a fuel element comprising a plurality of tristructural-isotropic fuel particles intermixed in a silicon carbide matrix, wherein the silicon carbide matrix separates at least one of the plurality of tristructural-isotropic fuel particles embedded in the silicon carbide matrix from the other tristructural-isotropic fuel particles embedded in the silicon carbide matrix, wherein the silicon carbide matrix is near-stoichiometric and has pockets of porosity of not more than 4%, and wherein the pockets include only rare earth oxides or tramp elements. 10. The nuclear fuel of claim 9, wherein the fuel element has a shape of a cylindrical pellet. 11. The nuclear fuel of claim 9, further comprising:a tubular enclosure defining an interior space, wherein an outer surface of the tubular enclosure is configured to contact a coolant of a nuclear reactor,wherein the fuel element is disposed in the interior space. 12. The nuclear fuel of claim 9, further comprising a graphite block having one or more holes, wherein the fuel element is disposed inside the one or more holes. 13. The nuclear fuel of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tristructural-isotropic fuel particles comprise transuranic elements extracted from a spent fuel of a light water reactor. 14. The nuclear fuel of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tristructural-isotropic fuel particles comprise transuranic elements extracted from a nuclear weapon.