Design and fabrication of specific ceramic–metallic fuels and targets

The fabrication of ceramic–metallic (cermet) composite fuel, containing (Y,An,Zr)O2−x spheres, by dust free processes has been studied. The influence of several process parameters, such as, ceramic volume fraction, compaction pressure and sintering temperature, on the microstructure of the final composite have been investigated and optimised using cerium as a stand for americium and two metal matrices namely molybdenum and stainless steel. In addition, a cermet fuel with (near) spherical (Y,Pu,Zr)O2−x particles, dispersed in stainless steel matrix, has been successfully fabricated and characterized.