Thermophysical property measurements at high temperatures for liquid metal alloys and gadolinium oxide-doped uranium dioxide samples

Abstract

New techniques for obtaining various thermophysical properties, i.e., densities and incremental enthalpies of selected materials at high temperatures have been developed with emphasis on the utilization of levitation technique and drop calorimetry. The density of liquid copper has been evaluated at 1550K. The incremental enthalpies of various Gd$\sb2$O$\sb3$-doped UO$\sb2$ nuclear fuel pellets have been obtained at temperatures between 1700 and 2100K. Determinations of incremental enthalpies, the heat of fusion and specific heats for a liquid Ni-based superalloy have been carried out using levitation drop calorimetry. Contact angle studies between liquid titanium and selected ceramic materials have also been performed.