METHOD OF PREPARING A FUEL ELEMENT

A method is presented for joining sections of uranium rod which are clad in a corrosion-resistant material of higher melting point than uranium. The method includes the steps of preferentially- etching the uranium in the ends of the sections to be joined to depress the level of the uranium slighily below that of the cladding, bringing the ends to be joined together, applying axial pressure to the joint, and heli-arc welding the joint while rotating the joint, to fuse the cladding to a uniform depth of about 50% of the thickness of the cladding.