Technique for mass-spectrometric determination of moisture content in fuel elements and fuel element claddings

A technique for mass-spectroimetric determination of moisture content in fuel elements and fuek claddings in the 2x10-4-1.5x10-2g range is developed. The relative standard deviation is 0.13. A character of moisture extraction from oxide uranium fuels in the 20-700 deg C temperature range is studied. Approximately 80% of moisture is extracted from the fuels at 300 deg C. The moisture content in fuel elements with granular uranium oxide fuels is measured. Dependence of fuel element moisture content on conditions of hot vacuum drying is shown. The technique permits to optimize the fuel element fabrication process to decrease the moisture content in them. 4 refs.; 3 figs.; 2 tabs