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Title: Characterization of the solid, airborne materials created by the interaction of UF/sub 6/ with atmospheric moisture in a contained volume

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5260598· OSTI ID:5260598

Several experiments have been performed in which UF/sub 6/ has been released into air under static conditions and contained in small release chambers (the largest was 8 cu ft) in order to characterize the solid product(s) created by reaction of the UF/sub 6/ with moisture in the air. Relative humidity of the air was varied, experiment to experiment, from < 2 to 100% and the amount of UF/sub 6/ released, experiment to experiment, varied from 5 to 230 mg. The releases were effected by rupture from internal pressure of the UF/sub 6/ containers (some were glass and some were metal) and the solids produced were collected and characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, laser light scattering, and a cascaded impactor which used mass measurement to evaluate aerodynamic behavior. Various morphologies and several compounds, dependent upon conditions of release, were observed, i.e., particle size and degree of agglomeration were dependent upon the relative humidity of the air into which the UF/sub 6/ was released and the temperature of the UF/sub 6/ at time of release.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5260598
Report Number(s):
K/PS-144; ON: DE82015436; TRN: 82-016270
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English