Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
1998 International RERTR Meeting

DEVELOPMENT OF UZr ALLOY FOR THE TRIGA/IPR-R1 REACTOR FUEL

^1,2Silva, E. G.; ¹Cardoso, P. E.; ¹Ferraz, W. B.

¹Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear - CDTN/CNEN
Rua Professor Mário Werneck, s/ n⁰ – 31123-970
Belo Horizonte – MG - BRAZIL

²Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear - CCTN
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais – UFMG
Belo Horizonte – MG - BRAZIL

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the fabrication development at CDTN of the UZr alloy for the TRIGA/IPR-R1 reactor fuel. A comparative study of the melting of UZr alloy by using vacuum consumable-electrode arc (VAR) and vacuum induction melting (VIM) processes is described. The characterization of the alloy was done by chemical, diffractometric, metallographic, delayed neutrons and mechanical testing. Both processes have shown advantages and disadvantages. In the case of VAR process, it was necessary to remelt the ingot to homogenize the alloy. The influence of the observed contamination by C in the VIM process on the alloy neutronic and mechanical properties is a case for further studies.