THE MECHANISM OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF OXYGEN-CONTAINING URANIUM COMPOUNDS ON THE COURSE OF THE METALLOTHERMIC REDUCTION OF URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · At. Energ. (USSR)

OSTI ID:4767073

Reshetnikov, F G; Gurvich, M G

Several factors, such as bulk weight, volatile admixture, oxyhalide content, etc. affect the reaction mechanism of the reduction of UF/sub 4/ by Ca or Mg. The presence of O-containing materials, especially of UO/sub 2/ and UO/ sub 2/F/sub 2/ was found to reduce the U yield from 97 to 98 to 86% while causing the formation of a heavy slag. Although the CaO formed by the reduction of these compounds increases the melting point and the viscosity of the slag, its presence cannot account for the lowering of the U yield. This phenomenon is explained by pointing out the possibility of forming secondary'' UO/sub 2/ according to the equation UF/sib 4/ + 2CaO yields UO/sub 2/ + 2CaF/sub 2/ + 103 kcal. The change of the free energy of this reaction is practically independent from the temperature; thus a strong interaction between UF/sub 4/ and CaO takes place in the molten slag. The resulting secondary UO/sub 2/ is only very slightiy soluble in the CaF/sub 2/, therefore the dissolved Ca reduces primarily the UF/sub 4/ in view of its higher solubility in the molten slag. Thermal analysis indicated 2 exothermic reactions, at 200 and at 600 deg C, in the UF/sub 4/ + CaO mixture: UF/ sub 4/ + CaO yields UOF/sub 2/ +CaF/sub 2/; UOF/sub 2/ + CaO- deg UO/sub CaF/ sub 2/. Similar observations were made with Mg as reducing agent. These considerations explain the negative effect of O-containing materials on the U yield. (TTT)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-16-033058
• OSTI ID: 4767073
• Journal Information: At. Energ. (USSR), Journal Name: At. Energ. (USSR) Vol. Vol: 13
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: Russian

Related Subjects

CALCIUM
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
EFFICIENCY
EXPANSION
FREE ENERGY
MAGNESIUM
MELTING POINTS
METALS
MIXING
OXIDATION
OXYFLUORIDES
OXYHALIDES
PHASE DIAGRAMS
REACTION KINETICS
REDUCTION
SLAGS
SOLUBILITY
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
THERMAL ANALYSIS
THERMODYNAMICS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM OXIDES
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
VISCOSITY
WEIGHT