In this work, we report an innovative approach synergizing multiple effects of microstructure control, oxide protection and phase transformation-induced mechanically toughening to develop advanced U₃Si₂ fuels with state-of-the-art materials properties. 3Y-TZP (3 mol% yttria doped stabilized tetragonal zirconia) additives are incorporated and uniformly distributed into the SPS-densified U₃Si₂ fuel matrix, enhancing materials fracture toughness up to 4.04 MPa m^1/2. The 3Y-TZP incorporated U₃Si₂ composite pellets show significantly improved onset temperature of oxidation above 560 °C, which can be further improved to 617 °C with 3 vol% addition by post-sintering thermal annealing. The development of mechanically tough and oxidation-resistant U₃Si₂ with minimal additive represents a major step forward towards realizing the potential of high density U₃Si₂ as the leading fuel concept to increase accidence tolerance of nuclear energy systems.

在这项工作中，我们报告了一种创新的方法，该方法协同发挥了微观结构控制，氧化物保护和相变诱导的机械增韧的多种作用，从而开发出具有最新材料特性的先进U ₃ Si ₂燃料。将3Y-TZP（3摩尔％的氧化钇掺杂的稳定四方氧化锆）添加剂均匀地分配到SPS致密化的U ₃ Si ₂燃料基体中，从而提高材料的断裂韧性，至4.04 MPa m ^1/2。3Y-TZP结合U ₃ Si ₂复合颗粒的氧化开始温度显着提高，高于560°C，通过添加3％（体积）可通过烧结后热退火进一步提高至617°C。具有最少添加剂的机械强度高且抗氧化的U ₃ Si _2的开发代表了朝着实现高密度U ₃ Si ₂潜力（作为提高核能系统的事故容忍度的领先燃料概念）迈出的重要一步。