PuN AND THE REFRACTORY NITRIDES

Technical Report · Sun Feb 16 23:00:00 EST 1964

OSTI ID:4055002

Carroll, D F

The properties of PuN are compared with these of PuO/sub 2/, PuC, UO/sub 2/, UN, and UC. A study was made of the thermal stability of PuN, UN, ThN, TiN, ZrN, and PuN--50 mole% UN by heating for 4 hr at 1800 deg C in vacuum and various atmospheres. ThN, TiN, and ZrN are quite stable in vacuum, while 100% of PuN, 53% of PuN--UN, and 19% of UN are lost. The melting behavior of these nitrides was also studied. Solid solutions of PuN--UN were obtained over the whole composition range, and x-ray results are given. It is concluded that PuN looks attractive as a possible reactor fuel material but that its high decomposition pressure presents a serious problem. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(45-1)-1350
• NSA Number: NSA-18-016473
• OSTI ID: 4055002
• Report Number(s): HW-SA-3370
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DECOMPOSITION
FUELS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INERT GASES
MELTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
PLUTONIUM CARBIDES
PLUTONIUM NITRIDES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
PRESSURE
REACTORS
REFRACTORIES
SOLID SOLUTIONS
STABILITY
THORIUM NITRIDES
TITANIUM NITRIDES
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM NITRIDES
VACUUM
X RADIATION
ZIRCONIUM NITRIDES