W. Scott Aaron - Clinton TN, US Emory D. Collins - Knoxville TN, US Guillermo D. DelCul - Powell TN, US Robert T. Jubin - Powell TN, US Raymond J. Vedder - Knoxville TN, US
Assignee:
UT-BATTELLE, LLC - Oak Ridge TN
International Classification:
B22F 1/00 B22F 3/02
US Classification:
419 19, 419 66, 75230
Abstract:
A system and method for stabilizing fission products in a cermet for long term storage. The method includes forming a metal oxide precipitate, combining the metal oxide precipitate with an undissolved solid, and densifying the combined metal oxide precipitate and the undissolved solid to provide a cermet having a ceramic dispersed phase and a metallic matrix phase, wherein the metallic matrix phase includes metallic content from the undissolved solid. The undissolved solid can include fission product metals from the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel. The cermet waste loading can be greater than approximately 30 percent, reducing waste volume by 50 percent or more when compared to baseline glassified articles.