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LEFCA-LBF α facility (nuclear fuels manufacturing)

Located at CEA Cadarache, the LEFCA-LBF facility, which is managed by the Fuel Studies Department (DEC), is an α platform dedicated to the manufacturing, characterization and treatment/reconditioning of uranium-based (or thotium-based) fuels and that may incorporate plutonium and minor actinides.

• The UO₂ Lab is a nuclear classified installation and is used to study uranium-based materials, including highly enriched and thorium-based materials.

• The LEFCA is a basic nuclear installation used to study plutonium and actinides.

This platform provides support to industrial partners on materials and process issues and participates in the decontamination of CEA installations. It also comprises means to manufacture experimental devices (from pellet to capsule or pin) in order to perform in-reactor irradiation tests on materials or on components. The studies conducted with this platform provide information essential to the understanding of the in-reactor behavior of fuels. Starting in 2017, this platform will collaborate closely with the ATALANTE facility.