Contribution to the Micrographic Study of Uranium and Its Alloys; CONTRIBUTION A L'ETUDE MICROGRAPHIQUE DE L'URANIUM ET DE SES ALLIAGES (in French)
Studies made to perfect micrographic techniques applicable to the study of samples of irradiated uranium are reported. In an investigation of the electrolytic polishing of uranium, two baths were developed which gave satisfactory results, a perchloric acid-ethanol mixture and a phosphochromic - ethanol bath. The micrographic attack of uranium was studied. It was shown that the oxidation in a boiling concentrated solution of sodium nitrate gives an excellent micrographic attack on uranium, if the samples were polished in a perchloric bath. As this method presents inconveniences, the method of chemical oxidation on the uranium surfaces polished in other baths was investigated. lt was shown that after an anodic attack at the minimum potential of electrolytic decomposition, chemical oxidation of the surfaces treated forms epitaxic tayers which show the uranium structure perfectly. The application of these techniques to alloys of uranium with aluminum, zirconium, and molybdenum is described. In the appendix, it is shown how the methods of polishing and attack may be used in the characterization and identification of hydride, carbide, and nitride inclusions in molten uranium. 60 references. (J.S.R.)
- Research Organization:
- Commissariat a l' Energie Atomique, Paris (France)
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-001352
- OSTI ID:
- 4301993
- Report Number(s):
- CEA-730
- Country of Publication:
- France
- Language:
- French
Similar Records
Contribution to the Study of Electrolytic Polishing of Uranium Alloys; CONTRIBUTION A L'ETUDE DU POLISSAGE ELECTROLYTIQUE D'ALLIAGES D'URANIUM
MICROGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF URANIUM BY FORMATION OF EPITAXIC LAYERS BY ATMOSPHERIC AND ANODIC OXIDATION