Abstract:
The conversion of research rectors like the FRM II to a lower uranium enrichment requires novel fuels. For this purpose, fabrication processes for monolithic U-Mo fuels were developed. Gradient foils from surrogate materials, necessary to reduce thermal spikes at the fuel plate edges, were produced by classical milling and selective laser melting. A new PVD coating process for applying Zr diffusion barriers between U-Mo fuel and Al cladding was developed and successfully tested.