Analysis of resistance to thermal stress in ceramic oxide nuclear materials

The response of UO2 and (U-Ce)O2 nuclear fuel material to thermal stress was analyzed in terms of the density and microstructural characteristics by measurement of the critical temperature difference in fracture ΔTC or thermal shock resistance R. An attempt was also made to correlate the decrease in ΔTC in UO2-5wt.-%CeO2 with the microstructural characteristics. The change in thermal shock resistance by the different material characteristics is complemented by cyclic thermal shock experiments in order to deduce additional properties such as durability of the materials. (Abstract Copyright[2002], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)