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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON THE STUDY OF BETA TREATMENT OF URANIUM, SEPTEMBER 1 TO NOVEMBER 30, 1960

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4711528
Studies were made of the variables affecting the growth index (G/sub 3/) and grain size of beta-treated uranium. The effect of time and temperature in the beta phase on G/sub 3/ was somewhat clarified. The range of beta treatment conditions was a heating of 2 to 64 min in molten salt at 690 to 760 l C and oil quenching. Both bare and sealed discs were studied. It was found that G/sub 3/ is affected by time only by small increments toward G/sub 3/ = 0 for 2 to 5 min; after this time G/sub 3/ is not expected to increase significantly. The G/sub 3/ values in discs protected from molten salt increase during this period by the same amount as bare discs. An investigation of thermal data for 1 7/8-in.-dia rod and for 3-in. OD bY 2 1/2-in. ID tube showed that there is little difference in cooling rate between a warm (55 l C) oil quench and a roomtemperature oil quench, whereas the cooling rate in warm (55 l C) water is definitely less than in cold (13 l C) water. Grain size and G/sub 3/ data are presented for a 1 7/8-in.-dia cold(12 l C) water-quenched rod and a 1 7/32-in.-dia 23 l C oilquenched rod. (P.C.H.)
Research Organization:
Nuclear Metals, Inc., Concord, Mass.
NSA Number:
NSA-17-023955
OSTI ID:
4711528
Report Number(s):
NMI-2802
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English