Reproducible fabrication of PuO2 fuel

PuO2 fuel pellets with stable microstructures at 80 to 90 percent theoretical density for use at temperatures up to 14000C can be fabricated by a granulation and hot pressing process. Three interdependent factors which must be controlled for reproducible fabrication of microstructure and density to +-0.5 percent are: particle size and morphology of plutonium oxalate precipitate, particle size of calcined PuO2 powder after ball milling, and temperature at which granules made from milled powder are presintered prior to hot pressing. Relationships are presented between each of these factors and their effect on the density and integrity of the fuel form