Cermet Transport, Storage, and Disposal Packages Using Depleted Uranium Dioxide and Steel

It is proposed that the steel components of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) storage casks, transport casks, and repository waste packages (WPs) be replaced with a depleted uranium dioxide (DUO{sub 2})-steel cermet consisting of DUO{sub 2} particulates embedded in a continuous-steel phase. Typical cermets use a sandwich-type construction with clean uncontaminated steel layers on both sides of the cermet. Cermets have several potential advantages over other materials of construction: (1) better gamma and neutron shielding than steel; (2) ability to withstand extreme conditions (fire, accident, sabotage); (3) potential to improve repository performance when used in WPs; and (4) use of excess DUO{sub 2} and recycled steel from nuclear facilities, thereby avoiding disposal costs for these materials. New methods of manufacture and other factors may provide economic incentives for cermet packages when large numbers of casks are manufactured.