b'Successful development of this processing technology is critical for development of advanced particle fuel designs and enables additive manufacturing for complex fuel forms that have the potential to be safer, more reliable, and more economical for both current and future reactors.research and development as well assolutions of zirconyl nitrate, urea, the use of additive manufacturingand hexamethylenetetramine to techniques for complex fuel formsmake zirconia microspheres with that have the potential to be safer,carbon.The molar ratio of carbonFigure 2. SEM image of 50m ZrC more reliable, and more economicalto zirconium was 3.A simplespheres produced using the microfluidics process developed from this research.for both current and future reactors. carbothermal reduction process usingThe phase purity was determined from Accomplishments: a maximum temperature of 2073 KX-ray diffraction (XRD).This research demonstrates theand ultrahigh purity argon produced production of uniform gel spheresuniformed zirconium carbide kernels using an experimental microfluidicswith an average diameter of 35 m.apparatus which can produce sinteredA scanning electron microscopy diameters well below 200 m with(SEM) image of the output of this a relatively small coefficient ofprocess, without sieving or use of variance.Processing designs anda roller micrometer to control for parameters, including feedstocksphericity, is shown in Figure 2.chemistry, fluid flow rates, andSuccessful demonstration of this tech-washing procedures were explorednology for both oxide and carbide/and tuned.A schematic of the overallnitride precursors provides confidence process flow is shown in Figure 1. that extension to a radiological capa-Additionally this research used Zrbility is justified. Fiscal year (FY) 20 as a surrogate for U to producework will demonstrate this technology sol-gel feedstock for ZrN and ZrCfor uranium materials. This technology conversions.Additions of carbonprovides an opportunity for advanced to the internal gelation system withparticle fuels, use of sol gel kernels microfluidics can be problematic dueto generate advanced composite fuel to the low flow rates on the order offorms, enabling of new manufacturing 100 L/min and long run times ontechnologies, and other options for the order of 4 h. However, an aqueouslight water reactor (LWR) as well as solution of dispersed carbon, Cabotsadvanced reactor fuels. TPX-101, was successfully used with 2019|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS 59'