Categorical Exclusion Determination
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
September 7, 2016
Estimated Read Time min
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute proposes an innovative program to develop oxidation/corrosion resistant uranium silicide U3Si2 fuels by chemical doping/fillers to form a continuous borosilicate glass as a protective oxide layer with transformational fuel performance and accident tolerance. The chemical doping/fillers include boron or carbon showing effectiveness in improving high temperature oxidation resistance in transition metal silicides1, and boron/silicon-containing compounds that can form a protective borosilicate glass layer. The project will also explore a truly transformational concept of using pre-formed borosilicate glass as sintering additives to promote fuel sinterability through liquid phase sintering and form a protective layer to enhance high temperature oxidation and corrosion resistance of uranium silicide fuels.