The high-temperature thermal conductivity of sintered uranium dioxide

Thermal conductivity values are calculated from 700 thermal diffusivity measurements between 970 and 2020°K on 25 samples of sintered 2·7% enriched UO2·00, 97% of theoretical density. The measurements were made using the modulated electron-beam technique and the thermal conductivities of all the samples, derived by using Moore and Kelley's specific heat values, are represented by k=(0·0227 T+3·38)−1+6·6 × 10−13 T 3 W cm−1 degk−1 (970-2020°K) the 95% confidence limits being ±14½%. This representation of the thermal conductivity is preferred because the values of the constants agree both with theory and the results of other investigators.