A STUDY OF THE DIP COATING OF URANIUM SHEET WITH ALUMINUM-SILICON ALLOY
A single-dip process for coating uranium sheet with aluminum-12.5 wt.% silicon alloy was developed. The technique consists of directly dipping uranium plate at a rate of approximately 0.6 in. per sec into a molten aluminumsilicon bath for about 15 sec at 585 deg C. Pretreatment of the slugs consists of sand or vapor blasting, nitric acid etching, and drying. A study of dipping conditions indicated that a minimum thickness of intermetallics is obtained by dipping at 585 deg C and for the shortest time commensurate with good operation (about 15 sec with 3 x 1 x 0.1-in. specimens). Raising the bath temperature or increasing the immersion time increases the thickness of the brittle intermetallic zone. Additions of copper or magnesium to the bath, which permitted dipping at as low as 570 deg C, actually increased the thickness of the intermetallic zone. Similarly, small additions, of beryllium, iron, misch metal (cerium and lanthanum), and nickel to the aluminum-12.5 wt.% silicon bath did not reduce the thickness of the intermetallic zones. The ductility of the aluminum-silicon coatings was evaluated by bend tests. Coatings formed at 585 deg C by 15-sec immersion in the aluminum-silicon bath could be bent over a 1 1/2-in. radius with no evidence of coating failure. With sharper bends the first evidence of failure was noted in the brittle UAl/sub 2/ intermetallic zone. Corrosion tests in boiling water indicate that with optimum conditions an aluminum-silicon coating can be produced which provides considerable protection to the uranium. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-92
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-018448
- OSTI ID:
- 4014984
- Report Number(s):
- BMI-898(Del.)
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Docl. with deletions Dec. 1, 1959. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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