ISSN:
1662-9752
Source:
Scientific.Net: Materials Science & Technology / Trans Tech Publications Archiv 1984-2008
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Powdered uranium silicide (U3Si2) 20% U235 enriched is an intermetallic compound usedas nuclear fuel material dispersed in aluminum to be the meat of fuel elements. U3Si2 powder is thestate-of-the-art as nuclear fuel material mostly used in modern research reactors. Its recentestablished fabrication in IPEN replaced the previous ceramic powder U3O8 used in the fuel of IEAR1(IPEN/CNEN, São Paulo, Brazil). The U3Si2 is a compound with 92.3%wtU and 7.7%wtSi. Itsproduction is made by induction furnace melting using metallic uranium, produced bymagnesiothermic reaction, and pure silicon. The induction furnace melts under argon controlledenvironment using zirconia crucible. Homogenization of liquid bath at 1800ºC is a compromisebetween crucible resistance and homogenized melting, avoiding hazardous happenings. IPENproduced its first lot of enriched U3Si2 in September 2004, with a continuous fabrication ever since.This research work represents the ability of having fully Brazilian supply of this strategic and highcost nuclear material. The fuel quality meets the world quality standards required by InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and RERTR standards. Brazilian production of U3Si2 powder notonly closed the fuel cycle, from uranium mineral to fuel element, but also allowed higherproductivity of nuclear medicine radioisotopes by IEA-R1
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://www.tib-hannover.de/fulltexts/2011/0528/02/19/transtech_doi~10.4028%252Fwww.scientific.net%252FMSF.591-593.194.pdf
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