A PROCESS OF PRODUCING A URANIUM DIOXIDE MATERIAL

Patent · Wed Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4126858

Sintered UO/sub 2/ bodies of high density can be made by mixing I to 3% (preferably 1.5%) of calcium hydride powder with UO/sub 2/ powder, comapacting the mixture, heating in vacuum to above 675 deg C, and heating further to I700 to I90O deg Cfor 2 hr to sinter the mixture. Calcium hydride docomposes above 675 deg C, producing H/sub 2/ and calcium metal which pnovides a reducing atmosphere and creates vacancies in the lattice, resulting in higher density at sintering temperatures. The quantity of calcium hydride to be used depends on the amount of excess O/sub 2/ (above that corresponding to UO/sub 2/) present in the UO/sub 2/ powder. One experiment, using the shove method, gave a sinterad body of density 8.64 g/cm/sup 3/ as compared with a density of 7.79 g/cm/sup 3/ obtained for a body with no calcium hydride. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-15-000608
• OSTI ID: 4126858
• Report Number(s): GB 848609
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CALCIUM
CALCIUM HYDRIDES
COMPACTING
DEFECTS
DENSITY
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGEN
LATTICES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MIXING
OXYGEN
POWDERS
PRODUCTION
QUANTITY RATIO
REDUCTION
SINTERED MATERIALS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
VACANCIES