COATING A URANIUM DIOXIDE NUCLEAR FUEL WITH A ZIRCONIUM DIBORIDE BURNABLE POISON

摘要

A method for coating a uranium dioxide nuclear fuel with a zirconium diboride burnable poison. First, a layer of niobium is bonded to the nuclear fuel. Then, a layer of zirconium diboride is deposited by chemical vapor deposition on the niobium layer. A zirconium diboride coated nuclear fuel having a layer of niobium between a uranium dioxide substrate and the zirconium diboride layer also is disclosed.