Composition containing a burnable neutron absorber and method of coating nuclear-fuel pellets with this composition.

摘要

A burnable absorber-containing glaze is formed on nuclear fuel pellets by applying a finely divided mixture of a boron-containing burnable absorber and a boron-containing glass to the pellet surface as a coating and firing the coated pellets at 900-1100°C, for 5 to 15 minutes, to melt the boron-containing glass and encapsulate the boron-containing burnable absorber. The coating is of a thickness of 1 mil or less and contains an amount of B10 sufficient to provide desired absorption of neutrons during reactor operation. The resultant pellets exhibit good adhesion of the coating and excellent resistance to moisture adsorption.