Effect of $U_3O_8$ -seed on the grain growth of uranium dioxide

Densification and grain growth have been investigated in 5 wt% seeded and compared with those of the common pellet. compacts and seeded compacts were sintered at for 0 h to 4 h. Density and grain size of the sintered pellets were measured by the water immersion method and the image analyzer, respectively. The seeded pellet has a slightly lower density during the intermediate sintering stage. However, the difference of density between two pellets decreases to about 0.5%TD with increasing the sintering temperature. The grain size of the two pellets is similar until but that of the seeded pellet rapidly increases with increasing the sintering temperature.