The Quality Control, Inspection and Testing of Fuel Materials for the First Charge of the Dragon Reactor Experiment. Dragon Project Report

The methods employed for the quality control, inspection and testing of the zirconium/uranium and thorium/uranium coated particle fuel materials and consolidated fuel cartridges for first fuel charge are described together with an indication of the general philosophy on which the programme of evaluation has been based. It is concluded that the methods which were selected have proved practical and in general well suited to the declared objectives. A final conclusion on the relative importance of particular procedures of evaluation cannot be reached until the irradiation behaviour of the fuel materials is established and the definitive parameters are clear. (author)