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Title: THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY OF UC, (U, Pu)C, AND PuC

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4143001

The thermal conductivities and electrical resistivities of nuclear carbides were determined at elevated temperatures. Replacement of uranium by plutonium in the carbide lattice reduces the thermal conductivity. However, the rate of increase in thermal conductivity with increasing temperature is greater for higher plutonium contents. On the basis of electrical resistivity, UC and (U/ sub 0.8/Pu/sub 0.2/)C are principally metallic conductors, while single phase PuC/ sub 0.87/ behaves as a semiconductor. The Lorenz number for UC (3.30 x 10/sup - 13/ c.g.s. units) is constant over the temperature range 200--400 deg C. For (U/ sub 0.8/Pu/sub 0.2/)C, the value of 3.92 x 10/sup -13 also remains constant. However, there is considerable variation in the Lorenz number of PuC/sub 0.87/ over this temperature range. In all cases, the Lorenz number is considerably larger than that calculated theoretically for pure electronic conduction. (auth)

Research Organization:
Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
NSA Number:
NSA-18-002223
OSTI ID:
4143001
Report Number(s):
CONF-206-4; LADC-5924
Resource Relation:
Other Information: From Symposium on Carbides in Nuclear Energy, Harwell, Eng., Nov. 1963. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English