Synthesis of dense yttrium-stabilised hafnia pellets for nuclear applications by spark plasma sintering

0439262 - ÚACH 2015 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Tyrpekl, V. - Holzhdauser, M. - Hein, H. - Vigier, J.F. - Somers, J. - Svora, Petr
Synthesis of dense yttrium-stabilised hafnia pellets for nuclear applications by spark plasma sintering.
Journal of Nuclear Materials. Roč. 454, 1-3 (2014), s. 398-404. ISSN 0022-3115. E-ISSN 1873-4820
Institutional support: RVO:61388980
Keywords : Nuclear application * Sol-gel * Zirconia * Transmutation * Fabrication * Actinides
Subject RIV: CA - Inorganic Chemistry
Impact factor: 1.865, year: 2014

Dense yttrium-stabilised hafnia pellets (91.35 wt.% HfO2 and 8.65 wt.% Y2O3) were prepared by spark plasma sintering consolidation of micro-beads synthesised by the "external gelation" sol-gel technique. This technique allows a preparation of HfO2-Y2O3 beads with homogenous yttria-hafnia solid solution. A sintering time of 5 min at 1600 degrees C was sufficient to produce high density pellets (over 90% of the theoretical density) with significant reproducibility. The pellets have been machined in a lathe to the correct dimensions for use as neutron absorbers in an experimental test irradiation in the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten, Holland, in order to investigate the safety of americium based nuclear fuels.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0242612