Kernbrennstoffteilchen und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung

1378501 Nuclear fuel UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY 14 March 1972 [15 March 1971 28 July 1971] 6907/71 and 35554/71 Heading G6C The kernel of a coated nuclear fuel particle comprises an oxide of uranium, thorium, or plutonium together with an oxide of a metal of variable valency, e.g. cerium, terbium, or praseodymium, which acts as a stabilizer. The stabilizing oxide is at least partially in its lower valency state and reacts, during fission, with released oxygen, thus preventing reaction of the oxygen with coating material, e.g. pyrolytic carbon. The added oxide may be distributed throughout the fuel oxide. In examples, the kernels are made by powder agglomeration or by gelation of sol droplets; ceric oxide which has been added is reduced to cerous oxide by heating in an argon-hydrogen mixture, and the kernels are stored in a non-oxidizing atmosphere until required for coating.