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Nuclear Rocket Ceramic Metal Fuel Fabrication Using Tungsten Powder Coating and Spark Plasma SinteringNuclear thermal propulsion is an enabling technology for crewed Mars missions. An investigation was conducted to evaluate spark plasma sintering (SPS) as a method to produce tungsten-depleted uranium dioxide (W-dUO2) fuel material when employing fuel particles that were tungsten powder coated. Ceramic metal fuel wafers were produced from a blend of W-60vol% dUO2 powder that was sintered via SPS. The maximum sintering temperatures were varied from 1,600 to 1,850 C while applying a 50-MPa axial load. Wafers exhibited high density (>95% of theoretical) and a uniform microstructure (fuel particles uniformly dispersed throughout tungsten matrix).
Document ID
20170005531
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Technical Publication (TP)
Authors
Barnes, M. W. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Tucker, D. S. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hone, L. (Center for Space Nuclear Research Idaho Falls, ID, United States)
Cook, S. (Center for Space Nuclear Research Idaho Falls, ID, United States)
Date Acquired
June 13, 2017
Publication Date
April 1, 2017
Subject Category
Propellants And Fuels
Nuclear Physics
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TP-2017-218236
M-1428
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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