skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Method of making spherical metallic oxide and metallic carbide particles

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7260984

A method is described for making spherical metallic oxide and metallic carbide particles, especially particles consisting of fuel or breeder material such as oxide or carbide compounds of uranium, plutonium, thorium and the like with a diameter of from 0.1 to 1.5 millimeters, according to which an aqueous solution of a metallic nitrate or a metallic chloride or a mixture of metallic nitrates or metallic chlorides in which the metallic ions and anions are in a stoichiometric ratio to each other, is added dropwise to an organic phase. The method is characterized primarily in that the drops formed from the aqueous solution after congealing are washed in an aqueous solution containing ammonia and from 0.001 percent to 0.1 percent of a non-ionic surface active agent, especially an ethylene oxide condensate, enveloping the particles and preventing them from clumping during the following drying step. The hardened particles are dried in an air current having a temperature of from 150 to 300/sup 0/C and an atmospheric moisture content corresponding to the degree of saturation of the air at a temperature of about from 20 to 50/sup 0/C, and sintered at about 1300/sup 0/C.

Assignee:
Kernforschungsanlage Juelich Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung
Patent Number(s):
US 3970580
Application Number:
TRN: 76-022828
OSTI ID:
7260984
Resource Relation:
Patent Priority Date: Priority date 8 May 1973, German, Federal Republic of (F.R. Germany)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English