Selection Criteria for Chosing Carbonaceous Matrix for HTR Block Type Design

In the framework of the ANTARES (AREVA New Technology for Advanced Reactor Energy Supply) programme, the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) and AREVA conduct R&D projects covering the mastering of fuel compact fabrication technology with the CAPRI (CEA AREVA PRoduction Integrated) line. Fuel compacts consist of coated particles bonded in a close-packed array by a carbonaceous matrix. This matrix is made by treating a fully graphitized powder (natural graphite and/or needle or pitch coke origin) with a binding agent which is a phenol-formaldehyde resin. The resin bonded matrix has to fulfill a number of essential tasks in the fuel element. Theses tasks are directly influenced by the graphite matrix structure and by the graphite sourcing. A bibliographic review of past irradiation tests performed in the 70's has been done to assess the relationship between graphite matrix materials used and the in pile compact behavior. The goal was to specify compact properties required for the definition of coming SIROCCO irradiation tests in the OSIRIS reactor. This paper presents the results of this bibliographic review. Compact properties leading to acceptable in pile behavior (i.e. dimensional changes, thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion) are highlighted and the influence of the matrix graphite structure is presented. (author)