Sintering study of nanocrystalline (U_1-xCe_x)O₂ (x = 0.22 and 0.28) by dilatometry

The uranium plutonium mixed oxides (MOX) are used as fuel in sodium cooled fast reactors (SFR). Indian Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), employs mixed oxides of uranium and plutonium with the composition (U_1-xPu_x)O₂ (x = 0.22,0.28). These fuels are fabricated through conventional powder metallurgical route. Often it difficult to obtain a product with a good micro-homogeneity when conventional powder metallurgical fabrication routes are employed. Solution based methods not only yield a product with better micro homogeneity, but also results in a highly sinter crystalline solid solution. Owing to the similarities of its chemical properties to that of plutonium, cerium is often considered as a surrogate for the latter. Hence, in the present study sintering behave on Nano crystalline (U_1-xCe_x)O₂ (x = 0.22, 0.28) was carried out by dilatometric method