This improved fuels based on uranium metal or of its alloys, coated with magnesium alloys or zirconium, as well as a process for the coating of these elements

摘要

1,084,750. Nuclear fuel elements. SNAM S.p.A. Dec. 9, 1964 [Dec. 16, 1963], No. 50171/64. Heading G6C. A nuclear fuel element comprises uranium or an alloy thereof coated with a magnesium or zirconium alloy or with zirconium, an intermediate layer of titanium being interposed and diffused into the fuel and into the coating. A uranium rod or tube may be coated with a layer of titanium by hot pressing, co-extrusion, spraying at high temperature, chemical or electrolysis deposition, or vaporization of titanium under vacuum. After heating to 550-800‹ C. to form a diffusion layer, the outer coating is applied by hot pressing or coextrusion and similarly treated to produce a diffused layer. Alternatively, the element may be formed by co-extrusion of the fuel, the coating, and the interposed layer of titanium.