Preparation of metallic fuel rodlets for irradiation testing in the HANARO research reactor

U–10 wt% Zr fuel rodlets, which will be irradiated in the HANARO research reactor in order to evaluate the irradiation performance of metallic fuel and validate the in-reactor behavior, were prepared through determined fabrication processes. Injection casting technology was applied to produce U–10Zr fuel slugs, and sodium melt and a bonding process were conducted to bond a fuel slug to the fuel cladding. To seal the end plug to the fuel cladding tube, a gas tungsten arc welding technique was adopted. Based on the results of these experiments, sodium-cooled fast reactor fuel rodlets for irradiation testing in the HANARO research reactor have been soundly fabricated.