Fuel can be obtained  from uranium dioxide powder even, which is unsuitable for the conventional technology.
The scientists of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) have developed a new method of producing nuclear fuel with the help of electric current. It is characterized with low production costs, higher production speed and better quality of the product, the University press service reports with reference to Ivan Tananayev, the head of the Academic Department of Nuclear Technology at the FEFU.
"The key idea of ​​our method is heating with electric current that runs through the mold with powder contained in it. Under these conditions uranium-oxide fuel is impacted with a powerful pulsed discharge and mechanical pressure at the same time", - the press service cited Mr. Tananayev.
According to the scientist, the main advantage of the method is that it increases the production speed and enhances the product's quality. Fuel can be obtained even from uranium dioxide powder which is not suitable for a standard technology. "With the new method we can produce high-quality fuel samples, including those for fast neutron reactors," - Ivan Tananaev emphasized.
As the Far Eastern Federal University reports, Russia's only enterprise engaged in processing of nuclear fuel - the Mayak corporation - is already highly interested in the method. Consideration is being given to the establishment of a pilot production plant for introducing the new method.
Currently, the main fuel for nuclear reactors are tableted uranium-oxide compositions. They are prepared from powder by way of granulating, pressing and sintering it with subsequent quality  and size control of the fuel tablets.