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Title: Fabrication of ThN Using a Carbothermic Reduction to Nitridation Process

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Ceramic Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.14453· OSTI ID:1498040
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
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A carbothermic reduction to nitridation process was developed which is capable of producing high-purity thorium mononitride (ThN) in bulk quantities. This was accomplished through study of three distinct processing routes using thermogravimetric analysis. The information gathered was then used to guide development of a draft process, which was tested within a tungsten production furnace. Scaling issues were identified and corrected following the draft process. Finally, a partitioned process was developed in response to the draft process which separates the reduction from the nitridation and carbon cleanup steps. This partitioned process was demonstrated to be capable of producing phase-pure ThN, with oxygen and carbon impurities of 990 ± 130 wppm and 240 ± 30 wppm, respectively.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Nuclear Science and Security Consortium
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001; NA0003180
OSTI ID:
1498040
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1400789; OSTI ID: 1407979
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-20326
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 99, Issue 12; ISSN 0002-7820
Publisher:
American Ceramic SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 4 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (10)

A molecular dynamics study of thorium nitride journal May 2005
Fabrication and Thermal Conductivity of (Th,U)O 2 Pellets journal July 2004
Thorium-Based Transmuter Fuels for Light Water Reactors journal July 2004
Thermal conductivity of ThO2 and Th0.98U0.02O2 journal January 2000
Deconvolution of Mass Gain and Mass Loss Mechanisms During Carbothermic Reduction to Nitridation of Zirconia journal February 2016
ThCN crystal structure journal June 1972
The Decomposition Pressure and Melting Point of Thorium Mononitride 1 journal April 1965
Weapons-Grade Plutonium-Thorium PWR Assembly Design and Core Safety Analysis journal July 2004
Vapor Pressure Measurements on Thorium Nitrides 1 journal December 1966
Use of Thorium in Light Water Reactors journal August 2005

Figures / Tables (11)

Figure 1(p. 13)figure Figure 1
Figure 2(p. 14)figure Figure 2
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Figure 4(p. 16)figure Figure 4
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Figure 6(p. 18)figure Figure 6
Figure 7(p. 19)figure Figure 7
Figure 8(p. 20)figure Figure 8
Figure 9(p. 21)figure Figure 9
Figure 10(p. 22)figure Figure 10
Figure 11(p. 23)figure Figure 11

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
nitridation
nitrides
reduction
thermal treatment
thermogravimetry
carbothermic