Uranium/water vapor reactions in gaseous atmospheres

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7321252· OSTI ID:7321252

Jackson, R. L.; Condon, J. B.; Steckel, L. M.

Experiments have been performed to determine the effect of varying humidities, gaseous atmospheres, and temperatures on the uranium/water vapor reaction. A balance, which allowed continuous in-system weighings, was used to determine the rates of the uranium/water vapor reactions at water vapor pressures of 383, 1586, and 2853 Pa and at temperatures of 80, 100, and 150/sup 0/C in atmospheres of hydrogen, argon, or argon/oxygen mixtures. Based on rate data, the reactions were characterized as hydriding or nonhydriding. Hydriding reactions were found to be preferred in moist hydrogen systems at the higher temperatures and the lower humidities. The presence of hydrogen in hydriding systems was found to initially inhibit the reaction, but causes an acceleration of the rate in the final stages. In general, reaction rates of hydriding systems approached the hydriding rates calculated and observed in dry hydrogen. Hydriding and nonhydriding reaction rates showed a positive correlation to temperature and water vapor pressure. Final reaction rates in moist argon/oxygen mixtures of 1.93, 4.57, and 9.08 mole percent oxygen were greater than the rates observed in moist hydrogen or argon. Final reaction rates were negatively correlated to the oxygen concentration.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 7321252
• Report Number(s): Y-2078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400702* -- Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry-- Properties of Radioactive Materials
ACTINIDES
ARGON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HUMIDITY
HYDROGEN
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
METALS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
RARE GASES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
URANIUM
VAPORS
WATER VAPOR