Thermophysical properties of metallic and ceramic nuclear fuels

Thermal conductivity and hot hardness data are presented at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre on a wide variety of nuclear fuels, including high density UO2 pellets of different grain size and pore structures and Al-U, Al-Pu and U-Zr alloys. For UO2 pellet, the thermal conductivity was found to depend on grain size and pore structure. For the alloy fuels chemical composition played a dominant role. The hot hardness data were measured from room temperature to a maximum temperature of 1573 K in vacuum (0.133 Pa). The thermal creep of the samples at a particular temperature beyond the softening point was evaluated. (R.P.) 10 refs.; 13 figs