PREPARATION OF REFRACTORY OXIDE MICROSPHERE

Patent · Tue Sep 24 04:00:00 EDT 1963

OSTI ID:4638033

Haws, Jr, C C

A method is described of preparing thorium oxide in the form of fused spherical particles about 1 to 2 microns in diameter. A combustible organic solution of thorium nitrate containing additive metal values is dispersed into a reflected, oxygen-fed flame at a temperature above the melting point of the resulting oxide. The metal additive is aluminum at a proportion such as to provide 1 to 10 weight per cent aluminum oxide in the product, silicon at the same proportion, or beryllium at a proportion of 12 to 25 weight per cent beryllium oxide in the product. A minor proportion of uranium values may also be provided in the solution. The metal additive lowers the oxide melting point and allows fusion and sphere formation in conventional equipment. The product particles are suitable for use in thorium oxide slurries for nuclear reactors. (AEC)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-035850
• Assignee: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 3105052
• OSTI ID: 4638033
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM
ALUMINUM OXIDES
BERYLLIUM
BERYLLIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COMBUSTION
GRAIN SIZE
MELTING POINTS
METALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
PRODUCTION
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTORS
REFRACTORIES
SILICON
SLURRIES
SOLUTIONS
THORIUM NITRATES
THORIUM OXIDES
URANIUM
USES