Sintering behavior of U-80 at.%Zr powder compacts in a vacuum environment

Sintering behavior of U-80 at.%Zr powder compacts in a temperature range from 1100 to 1500 ??C in a vacuum of 1 ?? 10-4 Pa was evaluated. The sintered density depended more on the sintering temperature than on the sintering time. The sintered specimens consisted of the ??-UZr2 matrix with acicular ??-Zr precipitates, but it still had un-reacted zirconium when the sintering temperature was 1100 ??C. The uranium depletion near the surface of the specimens sintered at temperatures above 1300 ??C was detected. Massive Zr(O) grains in the sintered specimen were found, and their formation was restrained when the cooling rate from the sintering temperature was increased.close1