Research of Main Influencing Factors during Sol-Gel Preparing Process of U-Zr-Hf Burable Poison Fuel

For the development of the integrated type burnable poison fuel with good irradiation stability, the U-Zr-Hf burnable poison fuel was prepared by sol-gel method, which can achieve the uniform distribution of burnable poison and fuel. Effect of the main influencing factors in preparation of broth, broth droplet gel-forming, gel particles washing and reduction sintering on preparation process and performance of fuel was studied. The results showed that: the total concentration of metal ions was the main reason for the viscosity increasing at low temperature. And the main factor for steady broth droplet gel-forming temperature was the metal ions system. The volume ratio of washing liquid and gel particles affected the washing process. The increasing of sintering temperature promoted the densifying of fuels. The metallographic surface photos of U-Zr-Hf fuel showed that the fuel was apparent integrity, with no rupture, and internal compactness.