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U.S. Department of Energy
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OXIDATION, HYDRIDING, AND AQUEOUS CORROSION OF U$sub 3$Si ALLOYS.

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4697664

Specimens of U{sub 3}Si were heated in air and in hydrogen at temperatures up to 550 degC and the products of reaction studied. The phases observed in these tests are compared with those which form in U{sub 3}Si samples corroded in high temperature water. The aqueous corrosion of U{sub 3}Si is mainly an oxidation reaction although limited hydriding may also occur as a secondary reaction. The oxidation of U{sub 3}Si either in air or water appears to be a multi-step process in which most of the phases of the uranium-silicon system form. Due to the kinetics of formation and stability of the phases at various temperatures all are not observed in an individual test. Although molecular hydrogen will not react with U{sub 3)Si directly, in some cases it will react with free uranium to form UH{sub 3}. If the UH{sub 3} is subsequently oxidized, nascent hydrogen will be released which will react with the U{sub 3}Si.

Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River (Ontario). Chalk River Nuclear Labs.
NSA Number:
NSA-26-018109
OSTI ID:
4697664
Report Number(s):
AECL--3862
Country of Publication:
Canada
Language:
English