PRODUCTION TEST AND EVALUATION OF LARGE UF$sub 4$-Mg BRIQUETTES

Technical Report · Wed Oct 11 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4793000

Shaw, W E

To test the advisability of briquetting the UF/sub 4/- Mg reduction charge, a production test was designed and executed. The test included the blending of the UF/sub 4/- Mg, the briquetting of this blend, and the reduction of the briquettes to uranium metal. Approximately 1,000 briquettes 11 1/2-inches in diameter, 9 5/6-inches high, and weighing about 133 pounds were produced from UF/sub 4/ which varied in UO/sub 2/F/sub 2/ and ammonium oxalate insoluble content through the normal production range. Reductions were made at two temperatures, 1320 and 1520 deg F. Three types of UF/sub 4/-Mg were used: briquetted, aged, and freshly blended. The latter two loose blends were considered as controls. Data concerning blending of UF/sub 4/- Mg were obtained and are reported. Statistical analysis of the reduction data showed at least a 2% increase in yield, very little change in firing time, and a potential gain of some 30% in available uranium per reduction when briquettes were compared with aged blend. The quality of the metal produced from the briquetted charges, as measured by a standard technique of visual rating, showed marked improvement. The uranium derbies produced from briquettes separated more easily from the by- product MgF/sub 2/ than the derbies from the control charges. (auth)

• Research Organization: National Lead Co. of Ohio, Cincinnati
• NSA Number: NSA-16-015121
• OSTI ID: 4793000
• Report Number(s): NLCO-841
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
COMPACTS
FLUORIDES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MAGNESIUM
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MIXING
OXALATES
REDUCTION
STATISTICS
URANIUM
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
URANYL COMPOUNDS