Casting and Fabrication of Core Material for Argonne Low Power Reactor Fuel Elements

Abstract

The Argonne Low Power Reactor (ALPR) is fueled currently with thin, plate-type elements containing a wrought, aluminum-base core alloy, with a nominal composition of 17.5 w/o fully enriched uranium, 2.0 w/o nickel, and 0.5 w/o iron, clad with an aluminum-nickel alloy. Fuel elements were fabricated by a picture-franne technique, employing elemental silicon bonding. Following this operation the compacts were hot and cold rolled to final size. This report describes the manufacture of 1150 fuel core blanks, of which 816 were used in the fabrication of fuel eleraents. Development, casting, hot and cold rolling, cleaning, and punching of core blanks are discussei, as are nondestructive testing and evaluation of the manufacturing processes.