Investigation of decladding via oxidation for MOX fast reactor fuel

Although the oxidation of spent uranium oxide fuels has been extensively studied for its decladding and off-gassing capabilities, research on mixed oxide (MOX) fuels has not been as rigorous. A few studies have been conducted on the oxidation of MOX fuels for both thermal and fast reactor systems where the plutonium content of the MOX reflects the reactor system; generally less than 10 wt. % for thermal and more than 10 wt. % for fast. For the fast reactor fuel studies, conditions were applied during the oxidation testing of these MOX fuels that were uncharacteristic. In one case a cladding material under early development was tested and in the other a non-irradiated simulant was employed. Thus, irradiated fast reactor MOX fuel has been investigated for decladding by oxidation (DEOX) which utilizes later generation cladding material, viz. D9, an austenitic stainless steel alloy stabilized with titanium