b'Figure 1. Technicians at the Materials & Fuels Complex (MFC) load sodium into the rodlets. All fuel fabrication and assembly work at MFC occurs within a glovebox to ensure oxidation risks are limited. After loading, the sodium is melted so that it forms a uniform bond between the fuel and cladding. The sodium is used to maintain adequate heat transfer between fuel and the cladding during early irradiation stages until the fuel is able to swell and make physical contact withthe cladding.2021|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS 119'