Sintering with sps/fast uranium fuel with or without burnable absorbers

A method of sintering a fuel composition, comprising:

• forming a powder sample, comprising:
• a material selected from the group consisting of triuranium disilicide with or without an integral fuel burnable absorber, a composite of uranium mononitride and triuranium disilicide with or without an integral fuel burnable absorber and
• uranium dioxide with an integral fuel burnable absorber;
• employing a SPS/FAST system, comprising:
• a power supply;
• and
• a vacuum chamber structured to enclose components, comprising:
• an upper electrode and a lower electrode;
• an upper punch connected to the upper electrode and a lower punch connected to the lower electrode;
• and
• a die assembly constructed of a conductive material, positioned between the upper and lower punches, and structured to hold the powder sample;
• introducing the powder sample into the die assembly;
• passing pulsed direct current from the power supply through the die assembly;
• heating the powder sample;
• contacting and compressing the powder sample between the upper punch and the lower punch;
• and
• sintering the powder sample.