Method of producing fuel elements

Purpose: To obtain nuclear fuel elements capable of reducing failures in fuel cans. Method: Non-autoclave tube (material tube) made of zircaloy, stainless steel or the like is depressed and washed, oxidized at about 250 - 3500C in an air to form on the surface an oxide film with less than about 5000 A thickness. The electrodeposition is conducted at about 20 - 40 V (using the tube as an anode) in an electrodeposition solution containing a mixture of graphite with about 0.2μ average particle size and less than about 2μ of maximum particle size and an anionic resin in about 1 : 2 - 5 ratio by weight. Then, a graphite coating layer of about 5μ thickness is formed to the inner surface of the tube and then baked in an oxidizing atmosphere to obtain a fuel can. Fuel pellets are charged within the fuel can and both ends of the can are sealed to prepare a nuclear fuel element. (Furukawa, Y.)