摘要 |
The invention relates to a method of rendering clad, pellet (13) containing elements (11), such as displacement rods to be used in nuclear reactors, essentially immune from undesirable deformation of the cladding and from a formation of undesirable gaps therewithin. …<??>As a last step in the making of such element, its cladding is heated to a temperature sufficient to reduce the yield strength of the cladding and, while at said temperature, has isostatic pressure radially applied thereto to cause collapse of the cladding onto the pellets therein. Preferably, heating of the cladding is carried out in an atmosphere resulting in the formation of a beneficial oxide coating on the outer surface of the cladding. |