A STUDY OF THE TETRABORIDES OF URANIUM AND THORIUM

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · Trans. Brit. Ceram. Soc.

OSTI ID:4652114

Matterson, K J; Jones, H

The preparation and properties of UB and ThB/sub 4/, and to some extent of UB/sub 2/ and ThB/sub 6/, were studied in view of the possible application of these materials as nuclear fuels. Previous work is briefly reviewed, with particular reference to six reported methods of preparation. The compouirds were prepared by reacting the elements in Ar, and fabricated discs and blocks by hot- pressing in graphite dies. UB/sub 2/ was found to react with the graphite, forming UB/sub 4/ UO/sub 2/, and a borocarbide of U. Properties obtained are shown in tables, graphs, and photomicrographs. They include crystallographic structure and lattice parameters, physical properties, oxidation rates, and behavior in gases at temperatures up to 1000 deg C. All the borides were found to lose B when heated to elevated temperatures, and may not possess true melting points. UB/sub 4/ has higher thermal expansion, microhardness, and modulus of rupture, but lower thermal conductivity and electric resistivity, than ThB/sub 4/ and oxidizes almost 10 times more rapidly at 1000 deg C. (TCO)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-033936
• OSTI ID: 4652114
• Journal Information: Trans. Brit. Ceram. Soc., Journal Name: Trans. Brit. Ceram. Soc. Vol. Vol: 60
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ARGON
BORON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONFIGURATION
CRYSTALS
DIAGRAMS
DIES
ELASTICITY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
EXPANSION
FAILURES
FUELS
GASES
GRAPHITE
HARDNESS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
LATTICES
LOSSES
MEASURED VALUES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MELTING POINTS
MICROSCOPY
MIXING
OXIDATION
PHOTOGRAPHY
PREPARATION
PRESSURE
REACTION KINETICS
REVIEW
SAMPLING
SOLIDS
STABILITY
STRESSES
TABLES
TEMPERATURE
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THORIUM
THORIUM BORIDES
URANIUM
URANIUM BORIDES
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM DIOXIDE
USES