Method for cleaning bomb-reduced uranium derbies

Patent · Mon Feb 23 23:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:7012909

Banker, J G; Wigginton, H L; Beck, D E; Holcombe, C E

The concentration of carbon in uranium metal ingots induction cast from derbies prepared by the bomb-reduction of uranium tetrafluoride in the presence of magnesium is effectively reduced to less than 100 ppm by removing residual magnesium fluoride from the surface of the derbies prior to casting. This magnesium fluoride is removed from the derbies by immersing them in an alkali metal salt bath which reacts with and decomposes the magnesium fluoride. A water quenching operation followed by a warm nitric acid bath and a water rinse removes the residual salt and reaction products from the derbies. 2 figs.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 4252564
• Application Number: PPN: US 6-068358
• OSTI ID: 7012909
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050400* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Feed Processing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CASTING
CLEANING
CRUCIBLES
ELECTRIC FURNACES
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FURNACES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUCTION FURNACES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM FLUORIDES
METALS
MOLTEN SALTS
REMOVAL
SALTS
SURFACE CLEANING
SURFACE FINISHING
URANIUM