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A KINETIC STUDY OF THE OXIDATION OF URANIUM DIOXIDE

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4337486
Oxidation of UO/sub 2/ to U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ in dry air and oxygen at temperatures of 160 to 350 deg C proceeds by a two-step reaction. In the first step the tetragonal oxide of composition UO/sub 2.34 plus or minus 0.03/ is formed. In the second step this tetragonal phase is converted to orthorhombic U/ sub 3/O/sub 8/. The rate controlling process in the first stage is the diffusion of oxygen through the UO/sub 2/ lattice. The value found for the diffusion coefficient D is D - 5.5 x 10/sup -3/ exp STA--(26,300 plus or minus 1500)/RT!, where the activation energy is 26.3 plus or minus 1.5 kcal/mole. The second stage of the reaction proceeds by a nucleation and growth process. The value found for the activation energy for growth is 35.9 plus or minus 2.0 kcal/mole. (auth)
Research Organization:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. Bettis Plant, Pittsburgh
DOE Contract Number:
AT(11-1)-GEN-14
NSA Number:
NSA-12-005945
OSTI ID:
4337486
Report Number(s):
WAPD-T-346(Rev. 1)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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