PENGARUH PROSES SINTERING TERHADAP PERUBAHAN DENSITAS, KEKERASAN DAN MIKROSTRUKTUR PELET U-ZrHx

EFFECT OF SINTERING PROCESS TO CHANGES IN, DENSITY , HARDNESS, AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF U – ZrHx PELET. The process of sintering fuel pellets U-ZrHx performed to obtain a higher density compared pellets before sintered. At first, U-ZrHx pellets made from the content of Zr respectively 35%, 45% and 55% by weight. Sintering process is carried out for 1 hour at varying temperature 1100°C, 1200°C and 1300°C with an increase rate of 2°C temperatur/ min, then lowered the temperature at a rate of decrease in temperature of 10°C / min until room temperature. U-ZrHx pellets that have been sintered subsequently subjected to various tests, such as: the dimensions, density, hardness, and microstructure. In testing the density, it appears that at the same Zr composition but the sintering temperature is higher then an increase in the density. When seen in the same sintering temperature and Zr content is higher then the lower the density obtained. Micro hardness testing results show that the composition Zr 35% fixed and 55% were sintered at the sintering temperature is higher, have the higher the hardness, and then decreases as the sintering temperature increase. If the test results viewed in the sintering temperature fixed but the content of Zr is different, it can be seen from the content of Zr 35% (U-35ZrHx) to 45% (U-45ZrHx) an increase in hardness, and will decrease to an increase in the content of Zr to 55% (U- 55ZrHx). Meanwhile, the results of the microstructure observation of the pellets can be seen that at composition Zr fixed but the sintering temperature is higher, then the distance between the powder / porosity increasingly dense. When viewed from the sintering temperature fixed but the composition increasingly higher Zr it is seen that higher Zr composition, the density between the powder in the pellets decreased. It can be concluded that the sintering process the pellets will increase density, hardness, and distance between powder increasingly dense. The optimum condition is achieved at sintering process the pellets with a composition of 45% Zr (U-45ZrHx) sintered at temperatures of 1200°C. In these conditions the sintered the pellets has a density of 8.673 g / cm3, hardness of 661 HVN without developing cracks.