The retention of transuranic elements in the fuel pellet is the primary focus of this study. Plutonium and americium, in particular, have high vapor pressures resulting in significant losses of material while undergoing traditional fuel pellet manufacturing techniques such as melting or sintering. This project uses an exothermic combustion synthesis method, termed self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), to produce high density, readily reproducible, ceramic nuclear fuels in conjunction with the fabrication of transmutation fuels. Combustion synthesis offers an alternative process for the synthesis of nitride nuclear fuels whereby the rapid heating and cooling rates minimize material loss and maximize production efficiency.

Auto-Ignition Combustion Synthesis (AICS) is a new and alternative processing method to produce very fine, crystalline and non-agglomerated multi-component oxide and nitride ceramic powders without intermediate decomposition and/or calcining steps. AICS exploits energy generated from an exothermic chemical reaction that is typically very rapid and self-sustaining. The main advantage of AICS over other processing methods is that heat required to drive the chemical process is provided by the exothermic chemical reaction and not by an external heat source. The AICS method involves reaction of metal salts, usually nitrates or chlorates, with a suitable organic fuel. The powders produced using this method will be used in a subsequent SHS reaction to produce the fuel pellets.