ELECTROPLATES ON THORIUM AND URANIUM FOR CORROSION PROTECTION AND TO AID JOINING
Flat thorium panels withstood exposure to 200 deg F watersaturated air for over 600 hr, and to 120 deg F water-saturated air for over 2500 hr after nickel plating. The plating procedure involved removal of about 3 mils of surface metal by electropolishing, activation, plating of 2 to 3 mils of nickel in a leveling-type bath, and vacuum outgassing at 500 deg F. Essentially the same techniques were found satisfactory for uranium. Panels were protected for over 400 hr in water-saturated air at 200 deg F by 1 to 2 mils of electroplated nickel. Localized attack occurred at the bare plating contact areas. Chrondum plating over the nickel coating prevented tarnishing. Application of a copper- plus-tin electroplate over the nickel coating made it possible to solder thorium and uranium successfully. The temperature of silver brazing, 1300 deg F, is too high for nickel-plated thorium and uranium, and bond failure occurs in the nickelthorium and nickel-uranium alloy zones. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-92
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-029642
- OSTI ID:
- 4842787
- Report Number(s):
- BMI-1537
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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CORROSION OF THORIUM AND URANIUM DURING LONG-TERM STORAGE