Characterization of uranium surfaces machined with aqueous propylene glycol-borax or perchloroethylene-mineral oil coolants
The use of perchloroethylene (perc) as an ingredient in coolants for machining enriched uranium at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant has been discontinued because of environmental concerns. A new coolant was substituted in December 1985, which consists of an aqueous solution of propylene glycol with borax (sodium tetraborate) added as a nuclear poison and with a nitrite added as a corrosion inhibitor. Uranium surfaces machined using the two coolants were compared with respects to residual contamination, corrosion or corrosion potential, and with the aqueous propylene glycol-borax coolant was found to be better than that of enriched uranium machined with the perc-mineral oil coolant. The boron residues on the final-finished parts machined with the borax-containing coolant were not sufficient to cause problems in further processing. All evidence indicated that the enriched uranium surfaces machined with the borax-containing coolant will be as satisfactory as those machined with the perc coolant.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6973560
- Report Number(s):
- Y-2359; ON: DE87004569
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
360101* -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
ACTINIDES
ALCOHOLS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BORATES
BORAX
BORON COMPOUNDS
CORROSION INHIBITORS
CORROSION RESISTANCE
CUTTING FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM
FLUIDS
GLYCOLS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS
MACHINING
MATERIALS
METALS
NITRITES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SURFACES
URANIUM