Improving sinterability of UO2-Gd2O3 fuel pellets by high-energy mixing
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Progress in Nuclear Energy
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The optimization of nuclear fuels for use in pressurized water reactors can be achieved by increasing the burnup
cycle. One way to achieve these goals is to anticipate an initial excess of reactivity in the reactor design and
incorporate so-called burnable poisons directly into the fuel to control the neutron population. Due to its
neutronic properties, gadolinium is one of the main elements incorporated in the form of oxide (Gd2O3). The dry
mechanical mixing of UO2 powder and Gd2O3 is the commercially most attractive method due to its simplicity.
However, this method leads to challenges in obtaining sintered pellets with high sintered density for use in
nuclear reactors due to the Kirkendall effect. In this work, 10 wt% of Gd2O3 powder was added to UO2 powder
through dry mechanical mixing in low- (Turbula®) and high-energy (SPEX®) mixers. The powders were homogenized
in turbula mixer for 1 h and 80 h. The mixing time did not improve the sintered density, which were
about 91.5 % of theoretical density (TD). Homogenizations in the SPEX mixer were carried out at 15, 30, and 60
min. The highest sintered densities in this case were 95.8 % and 96.3 % TD achieved with 30 min and 60 min,
respectively. Mixing the powders through a process involving more intense agitation allows for the breaking of
Gd2O3 clusters without significant changes in the properties of UO2, thus improving the sinterability of the UO2-
Gd2O3 fuel pellet.
Como referenciar
FREITAS, ARTUR C.; COSTA, DIOGO R.; LEAL NETO, RICARDO M.; CARVALHO, ELITA F.U. de; DURAZZO, MICHELANGELO. Improving sinterability of UO2-Gd2O3 fuel pellets by high-energy mixing. Progress in Nuclear Energy, v. 190, p. 1-11, 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2025.105986. Disponível em: https://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/49316. Acesso em: 26 Mar 2026.
Esta referência é gerada automaticamente de acordo com as normas do estilo IPEN/SP (ABNT NBR 6023) e recomenda-se uma verificação final e ajustes caso necessário.