THE REACTIONS OF ZIRCONIUM AND ZIRCONIUM BASED ALLOYS WITH NITRIC AND NITRIC-HYDROFLUORIC ACIDS. PART I. HAZARDOUS ASPECTS. PART II. DISSOLUTION RATES

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1958

OSTI ID:4280942

Martin, F S; Field, B O

Hazardous aspects of the dissolution of zirconium-uranium alloys in nitric acid were studied. lt is concluded that when nitric acid constitutes the major part of the dissolving solution (i.e., if fluoride concentrations are low), the safe dissolving of such alloys cannot be guaranteed. The explosive reactions observed are not of the detonation type, but appear to involve a rapid oxidative reaction between adsorbed or precipitated nitrates and finely divided metal (or metal in a low oxidatlon state) on the alloy surfaces. Some dissolution rates are reported for 5% U--Zircaloy-2 and for Zircaloy-2 in nitric acid--fluoride mixtures, in sulfuric acid catalyzed by ferric ion, and in anhydrous dinitrogen tetroxide in tributyl phosphate. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Research Group. Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, England
• NSA Number: NSA-13-008609
• OSTI ID: 4280942
• Report Number(s): AERE-C/R-2692
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADSORPTION
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
CATIONS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
EXPLOSIVES
GRAIN SIZE
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
IRON COMPOUNDS
METALS
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDATION
PRECIPITATION
QUANTITY RATIO
SAFETY
SOLUBILITY
SULFURIC ACID
SURFACES
URANIUM ALLOYS
VELOCITY
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCONIUM
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS