Affiliation:
1. Colorado School of Mines
2. Idaho National Laboratory
Abstract
Self-propagating high temperature (combustion) synthesis (SHS) is being used to
develop several synthesis and processing routes for the next generation of ceramic nuclear fuels.
These fuels are based on an actinide nitride within an inert matrix. The application of SHS is
particularly important in the synthesis of americium (Am) based ceramics; since the rapid heating
and cooling cycles used in this process will help to minimize vaporization loss of Am, which is a
major problem in synthesizing Am-based ceramics. Manganese, praseodymium, and dysprosium
are being used as physical and chemical surrogates for various actinides. Actinide nitride powders
produced using auto-ignition combustion synthesis (AICS) are subsequently reacted with zirconium
powder using SHS to produce a final fuel pellet. This paper will discuss the research to date on the
synthesis of Am-N powders as well as the production of dense Zr-Am-N pellets as a model ceramic
fuel system.
Publisher
Trans Tech Publications, Ltd.
Subject
Mechanical Engineering,Mechanics of Materials,Condensed Matter Physics,General Materials Science
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