THERMAL AND RADIATION STABILITY OF SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE GAS COOLANTS

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1963

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4710468· OSTI ID:4710468

Rainey, Jr., W. T.; Bennett, R. L.

A literature survey was made to evaluate the thermal and radiation stabilities of several gases which were proposed tentatively as reactor coolanta. Available thermodynamic stability data are listed. For each gas a summary is presented of the available information concerning stabilities and chemical reactivity with reactor materials and contaminants. Because of their low thermal stabilities, B/sub 2/H/sub 6/, SiH/sub 4/, and NF/sub 3/ are not recommended. Radiolytic decomposition and expense of removal of B/sup 10/ probably eliminate the use of BF/sub 3/. Little data are available concerning MoF/sub 6/, MoF/sub 5/ and NbF/sub 5/, but these compounds do not appear to have large stabilities. Radiolytic damage to CF/sub 4/ gives a G value for the production of fluorine of 0.28. No radiation information is available for SiF/sub 4/ and SF/sub 6/. An experimental investigation of the more promising gases (SF/sub 6/, SiF/sub 4/ and CF/sub 6/) is proposed. This would include radiation at ambient and high temperatures as well as reactivity stadies with carbon and reactor contaminants. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-17-010516
• OSTI ID: 4710468
• Report Number(s): ORNL-TM-475
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BORON 10
BORON FLUORIDES
BORON HYDRIDES
CARBON FLUORIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
GAS COOLANT
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IRRADIATION
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MOLYBDENUM FLUORIDES
NIOBIUM FLUORIDES
NITROGEN FLUORIDES
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
SILANES
SILICON FLUORIDES
STABILITY
SULFUR FLUORIDES
THERMODYNAMICS