Cleaning of uranium vs machine coolant formulations
This study compares methods for cleaning uranium chips and the residues left on chips from alternate machine coolants based on propylene glycol-water mixtures with either borax, ammonium tetraborate, or triethanolamine tetraborate added as a nuclear poison. Residues left on uranium surfaces machined with perchloroethylene-mineral oil coolant and on surfaces machined with the borax-containing alternate coolant were also compared. In comparing machined surfaces, greater chlorine contamination was found on the surface of the perchloroethylene-mineral oil machined surfaces, but slightly greater oxidation was found on the surfaces machined with the alternate borax-containing coolant. Overall, the differences were small and a change to the alternate coolant does not appear to constitute a significant threat to the integrity of machined uranium parts.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OS21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6150582
- Report Number(s):
- Y/DW-538; ON: DE91006302
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BORAX
REMOVAL
URANIUM
CLEANING
MACHINING
COOLANTS
CUTTING FLUIDS
FREONS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
STORAGE
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BORATES
BORON COMPOUNDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SPECTROSCOPY
050700* - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties
360101 - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication