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Title: TERNARY ALLOY-CONTAINING PLUTONIUM

Abstract

Ternary alloys of uranium and plutonium containing as the third element either molybdenum or zirconium are reported. Such alloys are particularly useful as reactor fuels in fast breeder reactors. The alloy contains from 2 to 25 at.% of molybdenum or zirconium, the balance being a combination of uranium and plutonium in the ratio of from 1 to 9 atoms of uranlum for each atom of plutonium. These alloys are prepared by melting the constituent elements, treating them at an elevated temperature for homogenization, and cooling them to room temperature, the rate of cooling varying with the oomposition and the desired phase structure. The preferred embodiment contains 12 to 25 at.% of molybdenum and is treated by quenching to obtain a body centered cubic crystal structure. The most important advantage of these alloys over prior binary alloys of both plutonium and uranium is the lack of cracking during casting and their ready machinability.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Originating Research Org. not identified
OSTI Identifier:
4184110
Patent Number(s):
2926083
Assignee:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22C - ALLOYS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
NSA Number:
NSA-14-015929
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS; BREEDING; CASTING; COOLING; CRACKS; CRYSTALS; FUELS; HEAT TREATMENTS; HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS; LATTICES; MELTING; MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS; PERFORMANCE; PLUTONIUM ALLOYS; PREPARATION; URANIUM ALLOYS; ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS

Citation Formats

Waber, J T. TERNARY ALLOY-CONTAINING PLUTONIUM. United States: N. p., 1960. Web.
Waber, J T. TERNARY ALLOY-CONTAINING PLUTONIUM. United States.
Waber, J T. Tue . "TERNARY ALLOY-CONTAINING PLUTONIUM". United States.
@article{osti_4184110,
title = {TERNARY ALLOY-CONTAINING PLUTONIUM},
author = {Waber, J T},
abstractNote = {Ternary alloys of uranium and plutonium containing as the third element either molybdenum or zirconium are reported. Such alloys are particularly useful as reactor fuels in fast breeder reactors. The alloy contains from 2 to 25 at.% of molybdenum or zirconium, the balance being a combination of uranium and plutonium in the ratio of from 1 to 9 atoms of uranlum for each atom of plutonium. These alloys are prepared by melting the constituent elements, treating them at an elevated temperature for homogenization, and cooling them to room temperature, the rate of cooling varying with the oomposition and the desired phase structure. The preferred embodiment contains 12 to 25 at.% of molybdenum and is treated by quenching to obtain a body centered cubic crystal structure. The most important advantage of these alloys over prior binary alloys of both plutonium and uranium is the lack of cracking during casting and their ready machinability.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1960},
month = {2}
}

Patent:
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