Dispersion ceramic micro-encapsulated (DCM) nuclear fuel and related methods

A method of manufacturing a dispersion-ceramic micro-encapsulated (DCM) nuclear fuel comprising:

• forming two or more different sizes of tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles, wherein the two or more different sizes of TRISO fuel particles each include a fuel kernel surrounded by a porous carbon buffer layer, an inner pyrolytic carbon layer, a ceramic layer, and an outer pyrolytic carbon layer;
• and
• obtaining a fuel compact of DCM fuel that includes the two or more different sizes of tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles dispersed and embedded inside a silicon carbide matrix by:
• mixing the two or more different sizes of TRISO fuel particles with a silicon carbide matrix precursor material, the silicon carbide matrix precursor material including a silicon carbide powder;
• sintering the silicon carbide matrix precursor material and the two or more different sizes of TRISO fuel particles through a nano infiltration transient eutectic phase to provide filling of the space between the two or more different sizes of TRISO fuel particles by pressing in a mold to stress the silicon carbide based precursor material and the two or more different sizes of TRISO fuel particles mixture at a predetermined sintering pressure and temperature to disperse and embed the two or more different sizes of TRISO fuel particles inside the silicon carbide matrix, thereby obtaining the fuel compact of DCM nuclear fuel.