Trace metal characterization of the U-Al matrix by atomic spectroscopy

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Nuclear Technology; (USA)

OSTI ID:5619316

Argekar, A A; Thulasidas, S K; Kulkarni, M J; Bhide, M K; Sampathkumar, R; Godbole, S V; Adya, V C; Dhawale, B A; Rajeshwari, B; Goyal, N ^[1]

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1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay (India). Radiochemistry Div.

Uranium-aluminum alloys with a significant enrichment of uranium with /sup 233/U or /sup 235/U serve as nuclear fuels in research reactors. The quality assurance of this fuel requires, among other things, precise knowledge that all trace metal constituents that affect neutron economy, fuel integrity, and fuel fabrication process parameters are well within the specification limits. Trace metal characterization of /sup 235/U-Al alloy has been carried out by atomic spectrometry. The trace metal constituents of interest are grouped into common metals (silver, boron, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, lead, silicon, tin, titanium, vanadium, tungsten, and zinc) and lanthanides (cerium, dysprosium, europium, gadolinium, holminium, lutetium, samarium, and terbium). The elements yttrium and zirconium are grouped with the latter in view of the chemical separation procedure used. The alloy samples are dissolved in 6 M HCl and evaporated to dryness with nitric acid, and the residue is ignited to oxide. The trace elements are determined by a dc arc emission spectrographic method after chemical separation. Of these, dysprosium, europium, gadolinium, and samarium are determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry also. These methods are found to be quite adequate for the requirements of U-Al alloy fuel samples.

• OSTI ID: 5619316
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology; (USA), Journal Name: Nuclear Technology; (USA) Vol. 84:2; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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