METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THREE-LAYER TUBULAR FUEL ELEMENTS Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; manufacture of dispersed-core fuel elements. SUBSTANCE: fuel elements of this type are manufactured in the form of round- or polygonal-section tubes having internal working layer (core) and bilateral protective cladding of corrosion-resistant material such as aluminum alloy. Proposed method for manufacturing such fuel elements includes placement of core billet made of uranium dioxide dispersed in aluminum matrix into aluminum alloy cladding, calibration, joint hot molding, drawing, and heat treatment; the latter is conducted prior to drawing at 420-460 C for 2-2.5 h followed by joint cooling down at a rate not over 30 C/h. Such procedure eliminates natural aging effect of matrix in cermet part which provides for good results in further plastic deformation of cermet products. EFFECT: improved quality of fuel elements. 1 cl, 2 tbl