Use of a Chip Method to Produce Homogeneous Aluminum-Uranium Alloy Foils

Technical Report · Thu Dec 27 04:00:00 EST 1956

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4351680· OSTI ID:4351680

Larson, W. L. ^[1]; Klein, J. L. ^[1]

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1. Nuclear Metals, Inc., Cambridge, MA (United States)

Inasmuch as it is extremely difficult to get a uniform distribution of uranium in aluminum-uranium alloys by conventional melting and casting techniques, the "Chip Method" has been devised and applied to the fabrication of homogeneous 85 w/o Al-15 w/o U alloy foils. A description of the experimental techniques and results is given. Alloy ingots were made by conventional vacuum melting and casting techniques. Each ingot was machined completely into chips, and, after being degreased, the chips were thoroughly mixed by tumbling, (if N ingots are needed for the total foils required, the mixed chips from each ingot are divided into N equal subportions, and the subportions cross-blended so that a uniform uranium content is achieved for all chips.) Chips were then cold-compacted, canned, evacuated, hot compacted, and hot extruded into a 1/8" x 1-1/8" flat. The extruded flat was cold rolled to 0.015" ± 0.0003” thick foil and milled to the proper width. Chemical analyses of the extruded flats and rolled foils showed that homogeneous foils were obtained by the Chip Method.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Metals, Inc., Cambridge, MA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• NSA Number: NSA-11-006310
• OSTI ID: 4351680
• Report Number(s): NMI--1168
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALUMINUM ALLOYS
CASTING
DISTRIBUTION
FOILS
MELTING
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
URANIUM
URANIUM ALLOYS