Reduction of UF/sub 4/ to metal at the FMPC

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5586055

Briggs, G G

Depleted uranium metal is produced from Paducah six-to-four type green salt which has been in drum storage approximately 8 to 10 years. Magnesiothermic reductions of the UF/sub 4/ are carried out in closed, but not tightly sealed, Cor-Ten steel pots which are lined with jolt-packed MgF/sub 2/ powder. The liner material is prepared from the MgF/sub 2/ slag recovered from the reductions. Firm linings are produced by jolting the powder around steel mandrels inserted into the pots. Each tamped reduction charge contains 497.5 pounds UF/sub 4/, 2.5 pounds UO/sub 3/ (previously blended into the green salt) and 78.75 pounds magnesium granules. The reductions are preheated to the point of autoignition in Rockwell electrical resistance furnaces.

• Research Organization: National Lead Co. of Ohio, Cincinnati (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76OR01156
• OSTI ID: 5586055
• Report Number(s): NLCO-1169(Spec.); CONF-8105139-3; ON: DE82010176
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101* -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM FLUORIDES
REDUCTION
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE