2007 International RERTR Meeting

Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the Meeting

Update on Uranium-Molybdenum Fuel Foil Fabrication Development at the Y-12 National Security Complex in 2007

A. DeMint, J. Gooch
Technology Development
Y-12 National Security Complex
Oak Ridge, TN 37830 USA

R. Dunavant, T. Andes
National Security Programs
Y-12 National Security Complex
Oak Ridge, TN 37830 USA

ABSTRACT

In support of the RERTR Program, efforts are underway at Y-12 to develop and validate a production oriented, monolithic uranium molybdenum (U-Mo) foil fabrication process adaptable for potential implementation in a manufacturing environment. These efforts include providing full-scale prototype depleted and enriched U-Mo foils in support of fuel qualification testing. The work has three areas of focus; develop and demonstrate a feasible foil fabrication process utilizing depleted uranium-molybdenum (DU-Mo) source material, transition these production techniques to enriched uranium (EU-Mo) source material, and evaluate full-scale implementation of the developed production techniques. In 2006, Y-12 demonstrated successful fabrication of full-size DU-10Mo foils. In 2007, Y-12 activities were expanded to include continued DU-Mo foil fabrication with a focus on process refinement, source material impurity effects (specifically carbon), and the feasibility of physical vapor deposition (PVD) on DU-10Mo mini-foils. FY2007 activities also included a transition to EU-Mo and fabrication of full-size enriched foils. The purpose of this report is to update the RERTR audience on Y-12 efforts in 2007 that support the overall RERTR Program goals.

 

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