Fabrication of dispersion ceramic nuclear fuel pellets with a highly uniform distribution of nuclide by 3D printing

The distribution of nuclear particles in dispersion-type nuclear fuel pellets is a crucial property since it strongly influences in-pile fuel behaviors. A way of improving the distribution of the fissile elements in the dispersion-type nuclear fuel pellets was presented. In this study, the selective laser sintering (SLS) was introduced to the fabrication of the dispersion nuclear fuel pellets to ensure a highly uniform distribution of the nuclear fuel microspheres in the pellet. A detailed technical route and fabrication processes was described. The effect of the size of MgO particle, scanning parameters and the post-processing of green nuclear fuel pellets were also investigated. The cross-sectional views of the final pellet showed that the distribution of nuclear fuel microspheres in the pellet was very homogeneity.