Cleaning of uranium vs machine coolant formulations

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6150582· OSTI ID:6150582

Cristy, S S; Byrd, V R; Simandl, R F

This study compares methods for cleaning uranium chips and the residues left on chips from alternate machine coolants based on propylene glycol-water mixtures with either borax, ammonium tetraborate, or triethanolamine tetraborate added as a nuclear poison. Residues left on uranium surfaces machined with perchloroethylene-mineral oil coolant and on surfaces machined with the borax-containing alternate coolant were also compared. In comparing machined surfaces, greater chlorine contamination was found on the surface of the perchloroethylene-mineral oil machined surfaces, but slightly greater oxidation was found on the surfaces machined with the alternate borax-containing coolant. Overall, the differences were small and a change to the alternate coolant does not appear to constitute a significant threat to the integrity of machined uranium parts.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OS21400
• OSTI ID: 6150582
• Report Number(s): Y/DW-538; ON: DE91006302
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101 -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BORATES
BORAX
BORON COMPOUNDS
CLEANING
COOLANTS
CUTTING FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FREONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MACHINING
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REMOVAL
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SPECTROSCOPY
STORAGE
URANIUM