Application of weak acid resin process to the production of spherical and calibrated oxide precursor bearing uranium and americium: overview of 10 years research at CEA - 5329

This paper is dedicated to the adaptation of the Weak Acid Resin process (WAR) to the preparation of uranium-americium mixed oxide microspheres as precursors for the fabrication of Americium Bearing Blankets (AmBB). It describes successive developments of WAR process from simple lanthanide oxide synthesis to that of mixed oxides bearing actinide(s). Recent studies demonstrated the scientific feasibility of the preparation of a dense uranium-americium mixed oxide pellets with 10 at% of Am vs heavy metal and with 95 % of theoretical density from those innovative microsphere precursors. (authors)