PhD in Master Of Sciences In Engineering

The researcher will be active in the expert group on Fuel Materials at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) in Mol and will obtain a Ph.D. in Engineering Science - Materials Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of KU Leuven./nThis PhD research investigates sintering kinetics and mechanisms of UO2 and high-plutonium content MOX fuel materials for Lead-cooled Fast Reactors (LFR) Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The project focuses on characterizing powder properties, effects of additives and manufacturing routes on pellet microstructure, and studying densification, grain growth, and sintering behavior using batch and in-situ techniques./nExperimental work will be conducted in SCK CEN fuel laboratories using powder metallurgical methods, liquid-to-solid and thermal conversion techniques to produce precursors and oxide feed powders, pellet fabrication by hydraulic or electromechanical presses, sintering experiments with controlled temperature and gas atmospheres, and solid-state characterization (optical and electron microscopy, particle size and surface area analysis, density measurements, X-ray diffraction). In-situ techniques include thermogravimetric analysis and dilatometry, complemented by microstructural examination using electron probe microanalysis.