Pyrophoricity of uranium in long-term storage environments
A corrosion cycle for uranium is postulated which can be used to assess whether a given storage situation might produce fire hazards and/or continual uranium corrosion. A significant reaction rate of uranium and moisture occurs at room temperature which produces uranium oxide and hydrogen. If the hydrogen cannot escape, it will react slowly with uranium to form uranium hydride. The hydride is pyrophoric at room temperature when exposed to air. Either the hydrogen or the hydride can produce a dangerous situation as demonstrated by two different incidents described here. Long-term corrosion will occur even if the normal precautions are taken as is demonstrated by the long-term storage of stainless steel clad uranium fuel plates. The major initiator of these problems is attributed to any moisture condensed on the metal or any brought in by the cover gas. The postulated corrosion cycle is used to suggest ways to circumvent these problems.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 46607
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/TD/CP-84441; CONF-941207-34; ON: DE95009902; TRN: 95:011014
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Spent nuclear fuel meeting: challenges and initiatives, Salt Lake City, UT (United States), 14-16 Dec 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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