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

THE EXTINGUISHING OF PLUTONIUM FIRES

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4751509
A fusible ternary eutectic salt mixture of barium, sodium, and potassium chlorides was developed as an extinguishant for metallic fissile material fires. The powder extinguished fires involving massive and finely divided uranium and massive plutonium, but was not successful with fires involving finely divided plutonium, combustion continuing under the powder. Tests indicated that a fusible ternary eutectic of sodium, potassium, and lithium fluorides would act as a more efficient extinguishant and would be capable of extinguishing fires involving flnely divided plutonium. The mixture was used successfully on fires involving plutonium, both in the massive and finely divided states. (auth)
Research Organization:
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Reactor Group, Dounreay, Caithness, Scotland
NSA Number:
NSA-17-006321
OSTI ID:
4751509
Report Number(s):
TRG-Report-342
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English