| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a heterogeneous composite fuel for nuclear reactors, the composite fuel comprising: at least a first fissile component comprising a fissile metal, such as uranium, plutonium or thorium; and a second, reinforcement component comprising particulate silicon carbide (SiC); wherein the fuel has, by comparison to the fissile metal alone, a larger elastic modulus, a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion and no less thermal conductivity. The silicon carbide particles are preferably between 0.5 and 10 microns in diameter, more preferably between 1.5 and 2.5 microns, and make up between 40 and 50 percent of the fuel by volume, more preferably between 44 and 46 percent. Pellets of the fuel may be manufactured by mixing the powdered fissile metal and silicon carbide to ensure a uniform distribution thereof, compacting the mixture in a steel die by hot pressing under an inert atmosphere, and finally sintering each pellet to complete densification and eliminate porosity. |
