Process and device for enclosing granular or pieces of contaminated materials in metal

The application concerns a process for enclosing burnt-up fuel particles from the high temperature reactor so that they can be finally stored. The material to be enclosed is surrounded by metal in the liquid phase so that the metal phase forms a matrix for the material to be enclosed after solification. There is a grid at the lower end of a piece of pipe made of corrosion-resistant material, on which a layer of pieces of material is applied. The bulk of the material to be enclosed is stored on top of this. One places a metal block with a low melting point on this bulk. The metal block is melted with a heater and the pipe is then placed in a vacuum. Due to the sub-pressure, the liquefied metal is sucked into the bulk of the material to be enclosed, penetrates it and surrounds it completely. (PW)