PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF URANIUM MONOCARBIDE CASTINGS

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4279680· OSTI ID:4279680

Secrest, Jr., A. C.; Foster, E. L.; Dickerson, R. F.

Using a special arc-melting technique, sound, homogeneous 100-g cylindrical castings of UC of near stoichi ometric composition were consistently produced. In the casting process developed, UC buttons previously prepared by arc melting the elements were placed over the opening of a graphite mold in a helium-atmosphere arc furnace. When the UC button became fully molten under the arc, it dropped by gravity into the mold. The densities of the resultant castings were about 95% of theoretical. The castings could be successfully machine ground using a water-base cutting fluid. In a preliminary determination of some physical properties of cast UC, the thermal conductivity measured at 100, 400, and 700 deg C was 0.060, 0.053, and 0.060 cal/(sec)(cm)(C), respectively. The mean linear- thermal-expansion coefficient in the temperature range from 20 to 95o deg C was 11.4 x 10/sup -6/ per C. Cast UC encapsuled in stainless steel exhibited good resistance to thermal stress and shock in two series of tests of 100 thermal cycles to 90WC and 100 cycles to 1100 deg C. Heat treating a casting specimen for 1 hr at 1000 deg C produced no significant change in microstructure, but after a subsequent exposure of 1 hr at 1500 deg C hardening and the appearance of the U/sub 2/C/sub 3/ phase were evident. In tests of compressive strength on a single specimen rupture occurred at 54,500 psi. (auth)

• Research Organization: Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-92
• NSA Number: NSA-13-004692
• OSTI ID: 4279680
• Report Number(s): BMI-1309
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CANNING
CARBON
CASTING
CONFIGURATION
CYLINDERS
DENSITY
ELECTRIC ARCS
EXPANSION
FAILURES
FURNACES
GRAPHITE
HEAT TREATMENTS
HELIUM
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IMPACT SHOCK
INERT GASES
LATTICES
LIQUID METALS
MACHINING
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURED VALUES
MELTING
METALLURGY AND CERAMICS
PELLETS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
POROSITY
PREPARATION
PRESSURE
STABILITY
STAINLESS STEELS
TEMPERING
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL STRESSES
URANIUM CARBIDES
WATER
WEIGHT