Production and Hot Hydrogen Testing of Molybdenum Matrix Cermet Fuels for NTP

Through this CIF project, molybdenum (Mo) matrix cermets will be produced via an innovative direct current consolidation technique and hot hydrogen tested using surrogate materials in place of the uranium dioxide (UO2) particles. The objective of this CIF is to identify the maximum use temperature and characterize fuel system behavior under steady state and thermal cycling conditions for low absorbing Mo matrix fuels as an alternative to tungsten (W).

Through the use of a hydrogen (H2) propellant, nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is a non-chemical propulsion technology capable of high specific impulse (850 - 900 s) and thrust (100 - 1,100 kN) allowing for reduced trip times for crewed missions to beyond LEO. Neutronic analyses, undertaken by NASA partners, have predicted that low enriched uranium (LEU) fueled nuclear thermal rockets (NTRs) with <20% 235U enrichment can be designed to allow for comparable performance to high enriched uranium (HEU) alternatives. LEU engine designs are anticipated to significantly reduce the perceived high maintenance costs and political hurdles traditionally associated with developing HEU NTP systems. The successful development of a LEU engine requires the affordable production and qualification of a fuel form which allows for operation in excess of 2500 K, resists interaction with the H2 propellant, and exhibits the nuclear properties to enable engine criticality with reduced uranium enrichment. Through this Center Innovation Fund (CIF) project, molybdenum (Mo) matrix cermets were produced via an innovative direct current consolidation technique and hot H2 tested using surrogate materials in place of the uranium dioxide (UO2) particles.

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