PERCOBAAN PEMBUATAN PELAT ELEMEN BAKAR U-7Mo-xSi/Al DALAM UKURAN MINI

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to obtain the optimized process parameters in the fabrication of a U-7Mo-xSi/Al mini plate complying with the specifications. The process flow started with synthesizing U-7Mo-xSi alloys (x = 1%, 2%, and 3%) using depleted uranium and continued to preparing U-7Mo-xSi powder, U-7Mo-xSi/Al fuel core, and U-7Mo-xSi/Al fuel element plates. The quality of the product was determined by analyses/tests including tests of raw materials and products from each end of the process by the appropriate type of test which is commonly applied to the manufacturing process of plate type fuel. The quality of U-7Mo-xSi alloy ingots, U-7Mo-xSi powder, and U-7Mo-xSi/Al fuel core was satisfactorily good and in compliance with the specifications, indicating that the applied process parameters were appropriate. The obtained fuel element plates, however, have not satisfied the requirements especially the thickness of the cladding, where there are still several measurement points whose thickness is <0.25 mm. To obtain cladding thickness according to the required specifications, it is necessary to experiment with other rolling parameters or replacing the cladding material with material of higher hardness.