Preparation of porous U-10%Mo alloy by powder metallurgy and its microstructure characterization

U-Mo alloy is one of candidates of metallic fuel for advanced nuclear reactor due to its good irradiation behavior. Reasonably analysis suggests that the irradiation swell of U-Mo alloy can be decreased by introducing homogeneously distributed voids, because they can accommodate gaseous fission products. The process of preparing low density U-Mo alloy by powder metallurgy was described, including preparing low density bulk materials by pressing and vacuum sintering. A serial of U-10%Mo alloys with different densities were obtained and the microstructure was analyzed by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is proved that the density of sample increases with sinister time under 1100℃. The void ratio can be controlled by adjusting sinister process conveniently. (authors)