| U02 powders prepared by calcination of ADU at 500°C
are veey active and have a low optimum sintering temperatore.
However, these powders are fluffy and have poor flow
and packing characteristics. With a view to optimising the
packing properties while still retaining the sinterability, the
powders were heated for a veey short duration (1 sec to 5
min) in the temperature rangeof900°-l400°C,sothat essentially
only the surface characteristics were changed without
any significant effect on the ceystallinity of the powders.
Sintering studies were carried out with these flash heated
powders in the temperatnre range of 1200°-l600°C in
hydrogen atmosphere, and compared with those of the
untreated powders. It was found that flash heated powders
retain their sinterability and have better flow and packing
characteristics. |
