URANIUM CARBIDE--PRODUCTION AND PROPERTIES

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960 · Nuclear Power

OSTI ID:4180569

Accary, A; Blum, P

The following methods for the preparation of UC were tried in France (Saclay): (1) U-graphite reaction, (2) Uhydrocarbon(gas) reaction, and (3) reduction of UO/sub 2/ by carbon. The method finally selected for fairly large- scale production of cast UC in sintering a mixture of carbon and U powders. U is produced by Ca reduction of UO/sub 2/, and then sintered with carbon either at high temperatures (thermal sintering) or simply by hot pressing. Hot pressing, while still not suitable for production of UC rods or slugs, gives chemical stability superior to that produced by thermal sintering. The products have fine grain size, random grain orientation, and absence of dicarbide as compared to cast U-C alloys. The production of UC in France is sufficient to supply fuel loads for new reactors to replace UO/sub 2/ fuel. Some of the properties of UC prepared as above are given. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Saclay, France
• NSA Number: NSA-14-017028
• OSTI ID: 4180569
• Journal Information: Nuclear Power, Journal Name: Nuclear Power Journal Issue: 50 Vol. 5; ISSN 0546-8981; ISSN NUPOAS
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CALCIUM
CARBIDES
CARBON
CASTING
CHEMICALS
FUELS
GASES
GRAIN SIZE
GRAPHITE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HOT WORKING
HYDROCARBONS
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MIXING
POWDERS
PRESSURE
PRODUCTION
REACTION KINETICS
REACTOR FUELING
REACTORS
REDUCTION
RODS
SINTERING
STABILITY
URANIUM
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM OXIDES