INVESTIGATION OF THE FIRST STAGE SINTERING KINETICS OF ADDITIVE FREE UO2 PELLETS

The purpose of this study is to investigate the first stage sintering kinetics and to calculate activation energy of additive free UO2 pellets. UO2 pellets and U3O8 added UO2 pellets were fabricated by powder metallurgy route. Pellets were sintered in the Ar+ 5% H2 atmosphere using a dilatometer. Activation energy calculations carried out by constant heating rate. The influence of U3O8 addition on the properties of sintered UO2 pellets was also investigated