COMPATIBILITY OF UNSUPPORTED PYROLYTIC-CARBON COATED URANIUM DICARBIDE PARTICLES WITH WATER VAPOR

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1964

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4052721· OSTI ID:4052721

Blakely, J. P.; Smith, N. V.; Overholser, L. G.

Five batches of pyrolytic-carbon-coated uranium carbide particles were exposed to partial pressures of water vapor ranging from 20 to 635 mm Hg at temperatures of 700 to 1100 deg C. All batches of coated particles had laminar type of coating and contained cores consisting principally of uranium dicarbide. The rate of reaction of the pyrolytic-carbon coatings with water vapor was determined from weight losses. The extent of failure of the coatings during exposure was established by microscopic examination and leaching of the particles with 8M HNO/sub 3/. Differences in the protectiveness of coatings present on the various batches of particles are attributable, at least in part, to two types of attack by water vapor, a localized or pitting type and a more general type. Rapid failure of the coatings was indicated at 1100 deg C. The coatings on some batches of particles remained protective at temperatures of 800 to 1000 deg C. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-18-018316
• OSTI ID: 4052721
• Report Number(s): ORNL-3598
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CARBON
COATING
CORROSION
FAILURES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
LEACHING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
NITRIC ACID
PYROLYSIS
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
REACTION KINETICS
SOLUTIONS
URANIUM CARBIDES
VAPORS
VELOCITY
WATER
WEIGHT