Preparation and properties of BC for MK-2
None
Yamashita, Mitsuo*; Saruwatari, Mitsuyoshi*; Shigi, Tadasuke*; Nishikawa, Akira*; Hara, Masatsugu*
Yamashita, Mitsuo*; Saruwatari, Mitsuyoshi*; Shigi, Tadasuke*; Nishikawa, Akira*; Hara, Masatsugu*
None
Boron carbide pellets (BC pellets), having 90% relative density, were experimentally fabricated and characterized to be applied to the control rods of the experimental fast reactor "JOYO" MK-II. Raw BC pellets were hot-pressed from natural BC powder and then finished pellets were prepared by burnishing them to adjust their dimensions. Their dimensions, weights, densities, X-ray diffraction patterns, microscopies, chemical compositions and adsorbed gases were measured. Finished BC pellets are concluded to satisfy their requirements such as dimension, weight, density, chemical composition and impurity levels. However, density was presumed to be heterogeneous inside pellets, since heterogeneous distribution of pore was observed under microscope.