FURTHER STUDIES ON LARGE-BATCH MELTING OF URANIUM
Investigations on the feasibility of melting uranium in open induction furaaces were conducted. One-ton heats were successfully poured in cast iron ingot molds. Rarnmed linings of MgO plus Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and preformed crucibles of MgO were used successfully for melting. Heats of 10 tons or more can be made in production furnaces without the use of a vacuum. One ingot weighing 1200 lb analyzed 0.01 wt.% carbon and 0.006 wt.% nitrogen. This ingot contained 0.0005 to 0.0009 wt.% hydrogen, even though it was melted in a preheated furnace without a salt cover in order to eliminate contamination by water from the furnace or salt. Thereafter, a series of tests on 170-lb ingots showed that flushing with argon or chlorine for a short time just before pouring could reduce the hydrogen content to 0.0003 to 0.0004 wt.%. The recovery of uranium in the ingot was consistently 93 to 97% of the weight of the charge when the time of melting was kept at l 1/4 hr or less. This high recovery was obtained either with or without a protective salt cover. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-92
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-007739
- OSTI ID:
- 4185684
- Report Number(s):
- BMI-1015
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Decl. Jan. 8, 1960. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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