Method for cleaning bomb-reduced uranium derbies

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863803

Banker, John G ^[1]; Wigginton, Hubert L ^[2]; Beck, David E ^[3]; Holcombe, Cressie E ^[3]

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1. Boulder, CO
2. Oak Ridge, TN
3. Knoxville, TN

The concentration of carbon in uranium metal ingots induction cast from derbies prepared by the bomb-reduction of uranium tetrafluoride in the presence of magnesium is effectively reduced to less than 100 ppm by removing residual magnesium fluoride from the surface of the derbies prior to casting. This magnesium fluoride is removed from the derbies by immersing them in an alkali metal salt bath which reacts with and decomposes the magnesium fluoride. A water quenching operation followed by a warm nitric acid bath and a water rinse removes the residual salt and reaction products from the derbies.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4252564
• OSTI ID: 863803
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
cleaning
bomb-reduced
uranium
derbies
concentration
carbon
metal
ingots
induction
cast
prepared
bomb-reduction
tetrafluoride
presence
magnesium
effectively
reduced
100
ppm
removing
residual
fluoride
surface
prior
casting
removed
immersing
alkali
salt
bath
reacts
decomposes
water
quenching
operation
followed
warm
nitric
acid
rinse
removes
reaction
products
uranium tetrafluoride
magnesium fluoride
salt bath
nitric acid
alkali metal
metal salt
reaction product
reaction products
uranium metal
removing residual
metal ingot
reduced uranium
effectively reduced
/75/