PRODUCTION OF GADOLINIUM HYDROXYCARBONATE FOR NUCLEAR FUEL
The development of advanced nuclear fuel involves the use of uranium-gadolinium fuel containing higher burnable poison. But the main processing parameters of uranium-gadolinium fuel pellets depend, first of all, on the burnable poison content. To obtain the fuel containing >8,00w% Gadolinium oxide, it is necessary to develop new process engineering solutions which allow to maintain such an important characteristic as oxygen coefficient. Currently, that is achieved by application of combined gases atmosphere or humidification of reduction atmosphere in the process of sintering. Also, it is possible to use additional components containing a higher oxygen concentration as compared with traditional Gadolinium oxide used. This article presents the results of obtaining and application of gadolinium hydroxycarbonate as fuel pellets addition.