1. In-situ synthesized nanocrystalline UO2/SiC composite with superior thermal conductivity
- Author
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Mingfu Chu, Dezhi Zhang, Xinchun Lai, Rui Gao, Bin Bai, Biaojie Yan, Yang Zhenliang, Libing Yu, Pengcheng Zhang, Li Bingqing, Yingru Li, Huang Qiqi, Wang Zhiyi, and Rongguang Zeng
- Subjects
Nanocomposite ,Materials science ,Process Chemistry and Technology ,Composite number ,Mixing (process engineering) ,Pellets ,Nanocrystalline material ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Thermal conductivity ,Pellet ,Materials Chemistry ,Ceramics and Composites ,Hydrothermal synthesis ,Composite material - Abstract
In this study, a novel UO2/SiC nanocomposite pellet was constructed via in-situ hydrothermal synthesis and SPS. Such method could avoid the problem of traditional mechanical mixing that could obtained the molecular level mixing during a chemical process. Using such method, SiC was dispersed uniformly in the UO2 matrix. Its thermal conductivity is significantly higher than those of UO2 pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder and traditional UO2 pellets at both working temperature (400 °C) and near-accident temperature (1000 °C). The thermal conductivity of UO2/SiC nanocomposite pellet increased 23.7 % over traditional UO2 and 48.9 % over UO2 pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder at 400 °C. It also increased 33.6 % over traditional UO2 and 74.8 % over UO2 pellet fabricated using hydro-thermally prepared powder at 1000 °C. These advantages are expected to maintain high thermal conductivity of fuels, enhance heat transferring efficiency of reactors, and minimize risks of pellet failure in the entire fuel life cycle.
- Published
- 2021