Method for providing uranium with a protective copper coating

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863965

Waldrop, Forrest B ^[1]; Jones, Edward ^[2]

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1. Powell, TN
2. Knoxville, TN

The present invention is directed to a method for providing uranium metal with a protective coating of copper. Uranium metal is subjected to a conventional cleaning operation wherein oxides and other surface contaminants are removed, followed by etching and pickling operations. The copper coating is provided by first electrodepositing a thin and relatively porous flash layer of copper on the uranium in a copper cyanide bath. The resulting copper-layered article is then heated in an air or inert atmosphere to volatilize and drive off the volatile material underlying the copper flash layer. After the heating step an adherent and essentially non-porous layer of copper is electro-deposited on the flash layer of copper to provide an adherent, multi-layer copper coating which is essentially impervious to corrosion by most gases.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4285782
• OSTI ID: 863965
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
providing
uranium
protective
copper
coating
directed
metal
subjected
conventional
cleaning
operation
oxides
surface
contaminants
removed
followed
etching
pickling
operations
provided
electrodepositing
relatively
porous
flash
layer
cyanide
bath
resulting
copper-layered
article
heated
air
inert
atmosphere
volatilize
drive
volatile
material
underlying
heating
step
adherent
essentially
non-porous
electro-deposited
provide
multi-layer
impervious
corrosion
gases
porous layer
protective coating
inert atmosphere
uranium metal
providing uranium
volatile material
heating step
cleaning operation
copper coating
surface contaminants
resulting copper
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