Fuel Pellet
Cylindrical ceramic UO2 disks, 8-10mm diameter, 10-15mm height, density >95% TD. Sintered at 1700°C; stacked in rods to form fuel.
Enriched to 3-5% U-235; contain additives like gadolinia for burnable poisons. Fabricated via powder metallurgy; ~10 tonnes produce 1 assembly. Annual US production ~2000 tonnes U. Cracking managed via dish/shoulder design.
Why it matters now
Pellet fabrication scales for HALEU SMRs amid 2025-2026 supply chain bottlenecks. High-burnup pellets cut refueling costs for AI data centers.
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