1965/02/01 by W.A. Sandholtz · 1 citation
Materials Science · Chemistry · #Graphite, nuclear technology, radiation studies #Nuclear Materials and Properties #Materials science #Grinding #Extrusion #Sintering #Calcination #Fabrication #Cubic zirconia #Metallurgy #Nuclear fuel #Combustor #Uranium #Chemical engineering #Ceramic #Combustion #Nuclear chemistry #Chemistry
paper · doi:10.2172/4330402
openalex publication_date 1965/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Declassified 26 Nov 1973. Development of an extrusion-based process for producing beryllia fuel elements for the Pluto nuciear powered ramjet is described. The goal was to extrude and fire hexagonal tubes to close dimensional tolerances without grinding. Sinterable beryllia powder was fueled by precipitating uranium and fuel additives from a single aqueous solution in which the beryllia had been slurried. After sintering, the fuel phase consisted of a phasestabilized solid solution of urania (UO/sub 2/) with yttria and zirconia. Principal operations consisted of slurrying and precipitation, filtration, drying and calcination, vehicle incorporation and mixing, extrusion, drying and vehicle burnout, and hydrogen sintering (including straightening). Directions for continued development toward the no grinding'' goal are pointed out. (auth)