# US 2014/0153687 A1 · Fuel component and method of manufacturing of a fuel component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153687 A1 - Document ID: US20140153687A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/581,168 - Filed: 2011-02-23 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-01 - Assignees: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB - Inventors: Lars Hallstadius; Karin Backman; Björn Rebensdorff; Hans Widegren - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153687A1 ## CPC - G21C 3/04: Constructional details - B22F 3/1039: {by reaction (B22F3/001, B22F3/23 take precedence)} - B22F 5/12: of wires {(of tubes B22F5/10)} - B22F 7/008: {characterised by the composition} - C04B 35/6455: {Hot isostatic pressing} - C04B 37/021: {in a direct manner, e.g. direct copper bonding [DCB]} - C23C 24/08: by application of heat or pressure and heat (C23C24/04 takes precedence) - G21C 3/02: Fuel elements {(manufacture thereof G21C21/02)} - G21C 21/02: Manufacture of fuel elements or breeder elements contained in non-active casings - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - C04B 2235/666: Applying a current during sintering, e.g. plasma sintering [SPS], electrical resistance heating or pulse electric current sintering [PECS] - C04B 2235/75: Products with a concentration gradient - C04B 2237/34: Oxidic - C04B 2237/343: Alumina or aluminates - C04B 2237/348: Zirconia, hafnia, zirconates or hafnates - C04B 2237/36: Non-oxidic - C04B 2237/365: Silicon carbide - C04B 2237/368: Silicon nitride - C04B 2237/40: Metallic - C04B 2237/401: Cermets - C04B 2237/402: Aluminium - C04B 2237/403: Refractory metals - C04B 2237/405: Iron metal group, e.g. Co or Ni - C04B 2237/408: Noble metals, e.g. palladium, platina or silver - C04B 2237/58: Forming a gradient in composition or in properties across the laminate or the joined articles - C04B 2237/84: Joining of a first substrate with a second substrate at least partially inside the first substrate, where the bonding area is at the inside of the first substrate, e.g. one tube inside another tube - Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors - G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The invention relates to a fuel component and a method for manufacturing of a fuel component. The fuel component is adapted to be used in fission reactors. The fuel component comprises a core consisting of a first material, and a layer consisting of a second material. The layer encloses at least partly the core. The first material comprises a fissile substance. The fuel component comprises an intermediate layer between the core and the layer. The intermediate layer has a material gradient that comprises a decrease of the concentration of the first material from the core to the layer and an increase of the concentration of the second material from the core to the layer. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-16. (canceled) ### Claim 17 A fuel component adapted to be used in fission reactors, comprising: a core consisting of a first material, and a layer consisting of a second material, wherein the layer at least partly encloses the core, wherein the first material comprises a fissile substance, further wherein the fuel component comprises an intermediate layer between the core and the layer, and that the intermediate layer has material gradient that comprises a decrease of the concentration of the first material from the core to the layer and an increase of the concentration of the second material from the core to the layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the material gradient comprises a successive decrease of the concentration of the first material from the core to the layer and a successive increase of the concentration of the second material from the core to the layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein that fuel component is manufactured by sintering. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the first material consists of at least a substance chosen from the group U, Pu, Th, UxOy, UxNy, UxCy, PuxOy, PuxNy, PuxCy, ThxOy, ThxNy, ThxCy, and mixtures thereof, and possible balance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the layer is arranged to absorb neutrons. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the second material consists of at least a substance chosen from the group Hf, B, ZrB2, In, Cd, Hg, Ag, Gd, Er, BxCy, BxNy, BxOy, and mixtures thereof, and possible balance. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the layer is arranged to protect the core from an outer surrounding. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the layer is essentially impermeable to substance in gaseous state, at least helium. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the layer is essentially corrosion resistant in an environment of a fission reactor. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the layer has a porosity with a total pore volume that is greater than or equal to zero, and that the core has a porosity with a total pore volume that is greater than zero, wherein the pore volume of the porosity in the layer is considerably less than the pore volume of the porosity in the core. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the layer comprises at least one of metallic material and a ceramic material. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the layer consists of at least a substance chosen from the group of Ti, Zr, Al, Fe, Cr, Ni, SiC, SiN, ZrO2, Al2O3, and mixtures of thereof, and possible balance. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) A fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the layer completely encloses the core. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) A method for manufacturing a fuel component according to claim 17, wherein the method comprises the steps of: feeding the first material and the second material to a space of a tool in such a way that the second material at least partly encloses the first material, sintering together the first and the second material to the fuel component, wherein an intermediate layer is formed between the core and the layer, and wherein the intermediate layer has a material gradient that comprises a decrease of the concentration of the first material from the core to the layer and an increase of the concentration of the second material from the core to the layer. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30, wherein when feeding the first material and the second material an intermediate zone is formed between an inner part of the space and an outer part of the space, and wherein the intermediate zone comprises a decrease of the concentration of the first material from the inner part of the space to the outer part of the space and an increase of the concentration of the second material from the inner part of the space to the outer part of the space. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, wherein the space is vibrated in such a way that the first material and the second material are brought together and form the intermediate zone.