Crystal Structure and Nano Structure of Oxide-and Nitride Transmutation Fuel – Refinement of Transmutation Fuel Processing for Surrogate and Radioactive Fuel Systems: Quarterly Report, January 2006 to March 2006

摘要

Transmutation-related research work at the National Laboratories, e.g. Los Alamos National Laboratory, is focused on mono-nitride ceramic fuel forms, and consists of closely coordinated “hot” actinide and “cold” inert and surrogate fuels work. Matrix and surrogate materials work involves three major components: (1) fuel matrix synthesis and fabrication, (2) fuel performance, and (3) fuel materials modeling. The synthesis and fabrication component supports basic material studies, as well as actinide fuel fabrication work through fuel fabrication process development.This project, task 28, supports the TRP program by delivering structural data on surrogate and radioactive fuels. Crystal structure and nanostructures of the individual fuel type, oxides and nitrides, as considered for GEN IV and HTR fuels are being determined. Therefore, three different approaches on fuel synthesis will be applied: (1) dry chemical route, (2) wet chemical route, and (3) sol-gel microsphere pelletization (SGMP) process.