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Title: Pyrophoricity of uranium

Abstract

Uranium metal is pyrophoric and is capable of self-ignition in air provided conditions are favorable. Based on the data in this report, spontaneous ignition of spherical particles larger than 1/16 inch in diameter would not be expected to occur in air at room temperature (25[degree]C). The rate at which the uranium surface oxidizes in air, balanced against the rate at which the heat of reaction is lost to the surroundings, determines whether spontaneous ignition can occur. Heat loss to the surrounding environment depends on the thermal conductivity of the uranium including the oxide coating, and on the temperature gradient. The ignition temperature for uranium metal particles is a function of particle geometry, size or specific surface area, heating rate gas composition as well as the quantity and distribution of powder within a storage container. The most important variable; however, affecting the ignition temperature for single samples was found by Schnizlein and Bingle to be the specific surface area (surface area per gram) of the uranium particles. The ignition temperatures calculated from ANL data for 1/16, 1/4, and 1/2 inch diameter spherical particles are 333, 375, and 399[degree]C, respectively. The accuracy is believed to be about [plus minus]l0%, which is basedmore » on theoretical and experimental results.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
6783661
Report Number(s):
WSRC-TR-92-106
ON: DE93012138
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-89SR18035
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; URANIUM; CORROSION; IGNITION; OXIDATION; ANL; HELIUM; SURFACES; THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY; THERMODYNAMICS; ACTINIDES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; ELEMENTS; FLUIDS; GASES; METALS; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; NONMETALS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; RARE GASES; THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES; US AEC; US DOE; US ERDA; US ORGANIZATIONS; 400800* - Combustion, Pyrolysis, & High-Temperature Chemistry; 400702 - Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry- Properties of Radioactive Materials; 360105 - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion; 360104 - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties

Citation Formats

Peacock, H B. Pyrophoricity of uranium. United States: N. p., 1992. Web. doi:10.2172/6783661.
Peacock, H B. Pyrophoricity of uranium. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6783661
Peacock, H B. 1992. "Pyrophoricity of uranium". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6783661. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6783661.
@article{osti_6783661,
title = {Pyrophoricity of uranium},
author = {Peacock, H B},
abstractNote = {Uranium metal is pyrophoric and is capable of self-ignition in air provided conditions are favorable. Based on the data in this report, spontaneous ignition of spherical particles larger than 1/16 inch in diameter would not be expected to occur in air at room temperature (25[degree]C). The rate at which the uranium surface oxidizes in air, balanced against the rate at which the heat of reaction is lost to the surroundings, determines whether spontaneous ignition can occur. Heat loss to the surrounding environment depends on the thermal conductivity of the uranium including the oxide coating, and on the temperature gradient. The ignition temperature for uranium metal particles is a function of particle geometry, size or specific surface area, heating rate gas composition as well as the quantity and distribution of powder within a storage container. The most important variable; however, affecting the ignition temperature for single samples was found by Schnizlein and Bingle to be the specific surface area (surface area per gram) of the uranium particles. The ignition temperatures calculated from ANL data for 1/16, 1/4, and 1/2 inch diameter spherical particles are 333, 375, and 399[degree]C, respectively. The accuracy is believed to be about [plus minus]l0%, which is based on theoretical and experimental results.},
doi = {10.2172/6783661},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6783661}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}