GRAIN REFINEMENT OF URANIUM. A Literature Survey

Technical Report · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4800343

Jacobs, A J

A survey on grain refinement of U is presented. A recrystallization treatment is the most effectlve method in the case of unalloyed U, but thls treatment has the disadvantage that prlor texture is not removed. If a small alloying additlon is made to the U, then a transformation (beta yields alpha or gamma yields alpha) heat treatment will produce more or less refinement depending on the degree to which the high-temperature phase (beta or gamma) is stablized by the alloying element. It is possible to obtain a nearly random structure, in addition to excellent refinement, by transforming a suitable dilute alloy. The effects that various dilute additions have on the transformation temperatures of U are summarized. A discussion of the variables involved in the transformation heat treatments, e.g., temperature, time, and heating rate, reveals the controversial nature regarding their roles in the grain refinement of U. Among the methods used to measure grain size in U, only a macrotechnique avoids the problem posed by subgrains. Fortunately a macrograin size was found to correlate satisfactorily with the in-pile characterlstlcs of U. (auth)

• Research Organization: Israel. Atomic Energy Commission, Tel-Aviv
• NSA Number: NSA-16-012026
• OSTI ID: 4800343
• Report Number(s): IA-704
• Country of Publication: Israel
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALLOTROPY
ALLOYS
CONFIGURATION
GRAIN SIZE
HEAT TREATMENTS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MEASURED VALUES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
RECRYSTALLIZATION
STABILITY
TEMPERATURE
URANIUM
VELOCITY