EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON MASSIVE URANIUM MONOCARBIDE

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4210526

Pearlman, H

Samples of 8.3% enriched arc-melted and cast uranium monocarbide, 3/8 in. in diameter by 2 in. long, have been irradiated in instrumented capsules in the Materials Testing Reactor (MTR), at temperatures in the range from 1000 to 1830 deg F, to burnups from 1500 to 14,000 Mwd/T. Excellent compatibility was observed in Type 304 stainless steel containers, in which eutectic NaK was the bend material. Slight cracking, but no crumbling, of the monocarbide samples cccurred. Density decreases for the longer irradiations were between 1.0 and 2.5% per atom per cent burnup, attributable principally to impenetrable cracks. Dimensional changes on intact samples were negligible. Fission gas release corresponded roughly to estimated surface recoil. In the four irradiations completed to date, carbon content ranged between 4.6 and 5.3 wt.%. Additional irradiations are in progress. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomics International Div., North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-8
• NSA Number: NSA-14-009818
• OSTI ID: 4210526
• Report Number(s): NAA-SR-Memo-4631
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BONDING
BURNUP
CARBON
CASTING
CRACKS
DENSITY
ELECTRIC ARCS
ENRICHMENT
EUTECTICS
EXPANSION
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GASES
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING
MELTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND MATERIALS
POTASSIUM
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION EFFECTS
RESEARCH REACTORS
RODS
SODIUM
STAINLESS STEELS
TEMPERATURE
URANIUM CARBIDES