Sintering behavior of MOX pellets prepared by mechanical blending method

Nishina, Masahiro; Suzuki, Kiichi  ; Takeuchi, Kentaro ; Kato, Masato   ; Uno, Hiroki*

Sintering behavior of MOX pellets prepared by the mechanical blending method was evaluated from measurement results of the O/M ratio and dimensional shrinkage of the pellets during sintering. Change of the O/M ratio occurred when approaching the equilibrium condition which was decided from oxygen potential depending on the P/P ratio in the sintering atmosphere. The O/M ratio increased and the MOX pellets shrank at lower temperatures with decreasing P/P ratio. The MOX pellets sintered near O/M = 2.0 showed more homogeneous distribution of uranium and plutonium than those of other specimens.