The development of high density, low enriched fuel for the conversion of research reactors: a historical overview

In the framework of the joint worldwide efforts to reduce the risk of proliferation by minimizing the use of highly enriched uranium in the civil nuclear fuel cycle, an extensive development and qualification program has been undertaken to develop and qualify research reactor fuel systems with reduced enrichment (< 20 %), that should allow to convert research reactors all over the world without significant loss of performance and significant increase of cost. This paper gives an historical overview on the efforts that have been deployed to this effect up to the present time. (author)