A STUDY OF THE MELTING OF IRRADIATED URANIUM

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · J. Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(62)90040-5· OSTI ID:4789950

Buddery, J H; Scott, K T

A study of the melting of high burn-up irradiated uranium was made, with particular reference to the release of the fission product inert gases. Density changes were recorded by a cine-photographic technique and due to the gross swelling caused by gas bubbles, values as low as 2 to 4 g/cm/sup 3/ were observed shortly after melting. During the expansion bubbles of up to 3 mm diameter were formed. Uranium burn-up and irradiation temperature had little effect on the gas release as measured by counting Kr/sup 85/. The gas release was studied in greater detail by quenching the uranium at progressive intervals after the release became rapid. This rapid release was found to begin in the solid uranium about 10 deg C below the melting point. At this point the strength of the uranium is so low that the internal pressure of the fission gases in the bubbles and cracks is sufficient to extend many of them to the surface. More than 99.5% of the Kr/sup 85/ was lost on melting, and the final configuration was a pool of almost full density uranium covered by a low density froth. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-012137
• OSTI ID: 4789950
• Journal Information: J. Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: J. Nuclear Materials Vol. Vol: 5
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BUBBLES
BURNUP
CONFIGURATION
COUNTERS
CRACKS
DEGASSING
DENSITY
EXPANSION
FISSION
FISSION PRODUCTS
GASES
HEAT TREATMENTS
INERT GASES
IRRADIATION
KRYPTON 85
LOSSES
MEASURED VALUES
MELTING
MELTING POINTS
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM
PRESSURE
QUENCHING
RECORDING SYSTEMS
SOLIDS
STRESSES
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THICKNESS
URANIUM
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY