PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF PLUTONIUM FROM ITS OXIDES
Abstract
A method is described for obtaining a carbide of plutonium and two methods for obtaining plutonium metal from its oxides. One of the latter involves heating the oxide, in particular PuO/sub 2/, to a temperature of 1200 to 1500 deg C with the stoichiometrical amount of carbon to fornn CO in a hard vacuum (3 to 10 microns Hg), the reduced and vaporized plutonium being collected on a condensing surface above the reaction crucible. When an excess of carbon is used with the PuO/sub 2/, a carbide of plutonium is formed at a crucible temperature of 1400 to 1500 deg C. The process may be halted and the carbide removed, or the reaction temperature can be increased to 1900 to 2100 deg C at the same low pressure to dissociate the carbide, in which case the plutonium is distilled out and collected on the same condensing surface.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4175934
- Patent Number(s):
- 2908563
- Assignee:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission DTIE; NSA-14-007439
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-007439
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- CHEMISTRY; CARBIDES; CARBON; CARBON MONOXIDE; CRUCIBLES; DISTILLATION; EVAPORATION; HEATING; METALS; PLUTONIUM; PLUTONIUM CARBIDES; PLUTONIUM OXIDES; PRESSURE; PRODUCTION; REDUCTION; SURFACES; TEMPERATURE; VACUUM
Citation Formats
Weissman, S.I., Perlman, M.L., and Lipkin, D. PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF PLUTONIUM FROM ITS OXIDES. United States: N. p., 1959.
Web.
Weissman, S.I., Perlman, M.L., & Lipkin, D. PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF PLUTONIUM FROM ITS OXIDES. United States.
Weissman, S.I., Perlman, M.L., and Lipkin, D. Tue .
"PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF PLUTONIUM FROM ITS OXIDES". United States.
@article{osti_4175934,
title = {PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF PLUTONIUM FROM ITS OXIDES},
author = {Weissman, S.I. and Perlman, M.L. and Lipkin, D.},
abstractNote = {A method is described for obtaining a carbide of plutonium and two methods for obtaining plutonium metal from its oxides. One of the latter involves heating the oxide, in particular PuO/sub 2/, to a temperature of 1200 to 1500 deg C with the stoichiometrical amount of carbon to fornn CO in a hard vacuum (3 to 10 microns Hg), the reduced and vaporized plutonium being collected on a condensing surface above the reaction crucible. When an excess of carbon is used with the PuO/sub 2/, a carbide of plutonium is formed at a crucible temperature of 1400 to 1500 deg C. The process may be halted and the carbide removed, or the reaction temperature can be increased to 1900 to 2100 deg C at the same low pressure to dissociate the carbide, in which case the plutonium is distilled out and collected on the same condensing surface.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1959},
month = {10}
}