skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON THE STUDY OF BETA TREATMENT OF URANIUM, NOVEMBER 1, 1959-AUGUST 31, 1960

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4670036· OSTI ID:4670036

Variables affecting the texture and grain size of uranium during beta treatment are summarized. The study of the effect of time and temperature in the beta phase on the growth index (G3) and grain size of the final alpha product is tentatively believed to show that higher beta temperatures for short times (up to about seven minutes) tend to promote slightly more negative growth indices and that higher beta temperatures give rise to somewhat finer grain sizes. Results of studies of both Jominy end-quenched bars and several full-sized rods and tubes quenched by total immersion showed that large thermal gradients promoted negative growth indices and produced grains somewhat elongated in the direction of the thermal gradient. The effects of endcooling in full-sized pieces quenched by total immersion in cold water showed that the axial growth index is negative up to distances from the end of about half the wall thickness of tubes and about half the radial dimension of rods. The grain refinement penetrates to a lesser distance from the ends. In the radial direction the growth index for these same pieces is largely negative to a distance below the outer diameter of about midwall in two tubes studied. In the case of one tube which was studied more completely, the growth index became negative again as the inner diameter was approached. A water-quenched rod was found to have a negative growth index down to a distance from the surface of about midradius. (auth)

Research Organization:
Nuclear Metals, Inc., Concord, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AT(30-1)-1565
NSA Number:
NSA-17-032538
OSTI ID:
4670036
Report Number(s):
NMI-2801
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English