Performance Analysis of U₃Si₂-Al Fuel with Density of 2.96 gU/cm³ and Burnup of 56%

Post-irradiation examination (PIE) of a low-enriched-uranium silicide fuel plate, irradiated in the Indonesian Reaktor Serba Guna–Gerrit Augustinus Siwabessy (RSG-GAS) multipurpose reactor, was successfully conducted. The objective of the PIE project was to evaluate the performance and integrity of the fuel under radiation exposure and, furthermore, to explore the potential for increasing the burnup level, enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness. The targeted fuel plate, identified as IDA0045, was extracted from the experimental silicide fuel element RI-SIE2, which had a burnup level of approximately 56% loss of ²³⁵U. A scanning electron microscope combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy microstructural examination and a Vickers microhardness test were conducted for the top, middle, and bottom sections of the fuel. The PIE results indicated minimal occurrence of fuel swelling and good fuel integrity under irradiation, suggesting the possibility of increasing the burnup level.