APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASONIC ENERGY. TASK 1: CHEMICAL PROCESSING. TASK 2: METAL AND CERAMIC POWDER PROCESSING. TASK 3: ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENTATION. Progress Report No. 19 Covering Period December 1, 1959 to January 31, 1960

Technical Report · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4843814

Ultrasonic Chemical Processing. Pyrometallurgical dissolution of uranium metal slugs in molten cadmium with 2-hr ultrasonic activation resulted in equilibrium concentrations of 2.68 wt.% uranium, in centrast to 0.03 wt.% uranium for a 2-hr nonultrasonic control. Fissium pin dissolution in molten cadmium gave an equilibrium concentration of 2.34 wt.% uranium after 2-hr ultrasonic treatment. Uranium oxide (U/sub 3/O/sub 8/) reduction - dissolution in the ultrasonic treatment furnace resulted in a 0.4 wt.% dissolved 2-hr concentration of uranium in the molten cadmium in contrast with a 0.013 wt.% control. Ultrasonic Metal and Ceramic Powder Processing. Ultrasonic energy, applied during the extrusion of ceramic powders, produced significant improvements to the process and the product. Ultrasonic die activation resulted in substantial load reductions and concomitant increases in extrusion,rates while cylinder activation was relatively ineffective. Ultrasonically extruded test pieces, when sintered, demonstrated improved physical properties compared to nonactivated controls. The feasibility of using ultrasonic vibratory compaction to produce more compact reactor fuel rods is being investigated with alumina powder as a simulant for uranium oxide. Rods with approximately 90% of theoretical density were produced in contrast to low density produced by either 40-ton tamping or 60-cycle vibrating. Ultrasonic Instrumentation. Preliminary motional impedance experiments indicate a critical area of measurement in glass-bead slurnies from 0 to 200 g/l. Since very little variation in the mean diameter of the motional loops was obtained at higher concentrations, further study is in process to increase sensitivity. (auth)

• Research Organization: Aeroprojects Inc., West Chester, Penna.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-027260
• OSTI ID: 4843814
• Report Number(s): NYO-2573
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM OXIDES
CADMIUM
CERAMICS
COMPACTING
CYLINDERS
DENSITY
DIES
EFFICIENCY
EXTRUSION
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FURNACES
GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
GLASS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IMPEDANCE
MEASURED VALUES
MELTING
METALLURGY
POWDERS
QUANTITY RATIO
REDUCTION
RODS
SENSITIVITY
SINTERED MATERIALS
SLURRIES
SOLUTIONS
SPHERES
TENSILE PROPERTIES
U3O8
ULTRASONICS
URANIUM
URANIUM OXIDES
USES
VIBRATIONS