Aspects of fabrication of curium-based fuels and targets

The limited fabrication possibilities will be decisive in the design of curium fuels and targets. It appears that there are significant advantages to be gained by separating the Am and Cm at the reprocessing stage, simply to concentrate the problems caused by Cm and limit its mass flow. Vibrocompaction of particles or spheres is probably the most suitable consolidation process, as it reduces the number of fabrication steps and reduces the concomitant controls and scraps occurring in pelletization routes for mixed fuel and targets. The infiltration process is the most promising method to convert aqueous Cm solutions to solid material, but sol-gel and other controlled precipitation for granulate production should not be neglected. Storage of the solidified Cm with a delayed introduction into the reactor for Plutonium transmutation is the most promising concept. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.