Abstract: A composite material comprising a solid particulate material and a matrix material encapsulating the solid particulate material, wherein each dividual particle of the solid particulate material is in contact with at least one adjacent solid particle. A method comprising providing a solid particulate material, providing a mold, evacuating the solid particulate material in the mold to remove gas in the void space between the particles of the particulate material, evaluating the mold, introducing the evacuated solid particulate material into the mold, providing a fluid matrix material, and introducing the fluid matrix material into the void spaces while constraining the solid particulate material.

Abstract: A novel containment system for encapsulating nuclear fuel particles is disclosed. The containment system has a gas-impervious ceramic composite hollow shell having a spheroidal or ovoidal shape. The shell has a pair of longitudinally aligned round openings that are sealed with a gas-impervious ceramic composite tube to define a cavity between the shell inner surface and the tube outer surface. A ceramic composite matrix containing the nuclear fuel particles is enclosed within the cavity. The ceramic composite matrix has a controlled porosity, and can contain moderators or neutron absorbing material. The tube and shell are composed of a ceramic matrix composite material composed of ceramic reinforcement material that is bound together by a polymer-derived ceramic material.