Demonstration research on fast reactor recycling using low decontaminated MA-bearing MOX fuels, 9; Microstructure and thermal conductivity of MOX with simulated FPs

Horii, Yuta ; Hirooka, Shun ; Uno, Hiroki*; Ogasawara, Masahiro*; Tamura, Tetsuya*; Yamada, Tadahisa*; Furusawa, Naoya*; Nakamichi, Shinya  ; Murakami, Tatsutoshi ; Kato, Masato   

The low-decontaminated fuel which contains significant amount of fission products (FPs) has been investigated as a fuel for the advanced fast reactor cycle. In this cycle, it is expected to reduce reprocessing cost and strengthen nuclear proliferation resistance of recovered plutonium accompanying high radiation dose FPs. As part of studies on physical properties of low-decontaminated fuel pellets, NdO/SmO powders were added to the MOX raw powder as simulated fission products (FPs). The effects of simulated FPs on thermal conductivity were evaluated focusing on the microstructural homogeneities of simulated FPs. From the results of thermal diffusivity measurement and the EPMA mapping, the homogeneous simulated FPs decreased the thermal conductivity of the MOX.