Irradiation behavior of atomized U–10wt.% Mo alloy aluminum matrix dispersion fuel meat at low temperature Original Research Article

In order to examine the in-reactor behavior of very-high-density dispersion fuels for high flux performance research reactors, U–10wt.% Mo alloy dispersions in an aluminum matrix have been irradiated at low temperature in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). The alloy fuel dispersant was produced by a centrifugal atomization process. The fuel shows stable in-reactor irradiation behavior to a fission density of 5×1027 m−3 at an irradiation temperature of ∼65 °C. The fuel–matrix interaction layer growth rate is similar to that observed in uranium-silicide fuels. The fuel particles have a fine and a relatively narrow fission gas bubble size distribution. There appears to be features in the microstrucure that are the result of segregation of the microstructure in to molybdenum rich and depleted regions on solidification.