Solder sealing of zirconium alloy containers in hot isostatic pressing technology

Hot isostatic pressing in liquid glass, for example, sodium silicate, has found wide application in the fabrication of articles from powder, including cermet rods with a zirconium alloy matrix with >60 vol.% nuclear fuel [13]. Cermet rods are used to make kernels for fuel elements for NPP [4]. Sealed containers with coated fuel particles are pressed in a steel vessel with liquid glass in the temperature interval 9001100C. Solder sealing of containers makes it easier to manufacture articles by hot isostatic pressing by degassing and sealing in a single process, and this is of great practical value. To manufacture cermet rods, it was necessary to develop a shellplug solder connection with degassing at temperature to 950C, choose a solder for zirconium alloys at 9501000C, and perform experiments showing the main processes responsible for an airtight connection. In the proposed design, a plug is secured in a shell by creating three projections directed into a cylindrical groove in the plug.