4. Fuel fabrication and transmutation targets

4.1 Thermal and radiological stresses

Transmutation fuels contain quantities of transuranics that can exceed 6 g/cm ³ of material. The highest concentration of minor actinides can be over 3 g/cm ³ .

The manufacture of such objects is complicated by the α, β, γ and neutron emission of most of the isotopes in their composition, as shown in the table 6 presenting some of the characteristics of the heavy nuclei making up fuels and targets. In addition, contact between americium and certain light elements can lead to neutron emission by reaction (α, n).

Curium is unquestionably the most problematic...