ZIRCONIUM-HAFNIUM SEPARATION
During 33 months of operation the purification plant at Albany, Oreg., processed 2,500,000 pounds of commercial zirconium tetrachloride to produce lowhafnium zirconium oxide and low-zirconium hafnium oxide. TMe average hafnium content of the zirconium oxide was about 40 ppm and the hafnium oxide contained less than 2% zirconium. The separate oxides were converted to sponge metal by the Kroll process in another section of the plant. ALthough corrosion was a major problem, modifications of equipment by adoption of resistant materials and continuous washing down and maintenance of equipment and plant served to reduce materially the corrosive action of the chemicals and fumes. An accurate equilibrium-data diagram to establish variables for separation of zirconium and hafnium in the aqueous and organic phases was never satisfactorily established. The data accumulated showed considerable scatter, and no definite trends were demonsmated nor was correlation obtained for any exponential power of flow ratio to metal transfer. Of interest, however, was the fact that the greatest possible transfer of metal took place in the first and fourth columns of the extraction system. These were the points in the system where fresh feed first contacted the organic stream and where metal-free solvent first contacted the aqueous stream. Conditions within the second and third columns remained relatively stable. (auth) Stainless steel-clad fuel sheet 0.020 in. thick with a 0.008-in. core of stainless steel plus UO/sub 2/ was produced by roll cladding a powder- metal compact. The effects of processing variables, core-matrix composition, quantity of oxide, and oxide particle size on the properties of the sheet were investigated. The strength and ductility of the core decreased sharply as the quantity of oxide in the core increased from 20 to 40 wt.%. Over the range of matrix compositions investigated, the particle size of the oxide had little effect on the core strength. In cores containing 25 wt.% of oxide, an 18 wt.% chromium--82 wt.% iron matrix prepared from the elemental metal powders had the highest strength and ductility, but this matrix was susceptible to cracking during thermal cycling. An elemental 18 wt.% chromium--9 wt.% nickel--73 wt.% iron matrix was the most satisfactory from the standpoint of fabrication and over- all characteristics of the resulting sheet. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Bureau of Mines
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-020142
- OSTI ID:
- 4247043
- Report Number(s):
- BM-RI-5499
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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