Fabrication of fuel element core (FEC) of U–6Zr–5Nb/Al to be fuel element plate (FEP) with variation of uranium density

Fabrication of fuel element core (FEC) of U–6Zr–5Nb/Al to be fuel element plate (FEP) with variation of uranium density has been conducted. The purpose of this study is to obtain the process parameters of fabrication FEP of U–6Zr–5Nb/Al. The composition of 89 wt.%U, 6 wt.%Zr, and 5 wt.%Nb metals were melted using an electric arc melting furnace to obtain U–6Zr–5Nb ingot, which was then processed by hydriding-dehydriding process to be U–6Zr–5Nb powder. The U–6Zr–5Nb powder was added with Al powder with weight ratio according to uranium meat density of 5.2, 6.0 and 7.0 gU/cm3. The mixture of U–6Zr–5Nb powder was pressed and put into the frame and closed with AlMg2 plate and rolled through four stages rolling process at temperature of 425 °C and continued with cold rolling to obtain a FEP with thickness of 1.47 mm. The FEP was partially cut for metallographic testing purpose by observing the condition of the meat and the thickness of the cladding. Others plates were analyzed to observe the white spots and blisters. The testing results show that the thickness cladding for FEP of U–6Zr–5Nb/Al with U density of 5.2 and 6.0 gU/cm3 has met the requirements. No white spots and blisters were found in all examined FEP of U–6Zr–5Nb/Al with U density of 5.2, 6.0 and 7.0 gU/cm3. Overall, the experiment process of making FEP of U–6Zr–5Nb/Al has met the specified requirements.