THE EFFECT OF IRRADIATION ON THE HYDROLYSIS OF URANIUM CARBIDES. I. PREPARATION OF URANIUM MONOCARBIDE PELLETS FOR IRRADIATION

Technical Report · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1963

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4730509· OSTI ID:4730509

Bradley, M. J.; Ferris, L. M.; Hikido, T.; Ullmann, J. W.

The effect of irradiation on the hydrolytic behavior of uranium monocarbide as related to the aqueous chemical processing of these reactor fuels is being investigated. The fabrication, evaluation, and encapsulation of the UC in niobium prior to irradiation is described. Uranium monocarbide buttons were prepared by arc-melting 1.51%enriched uranium metal with the stoichiometric quantity of spectroscopic-grade carbon. The buttons were then remelted and drop- cast into graphite thimbles 3/8 in. dia, and 3 in. long. The cylindrical castings were surface ground and cut into 0.17 in.-thick pellets, which were then polished. Preirradiation evaluation included metallography, chemical analysis, and hydrolysis studies. Microstructures of the final pellets indicated that the monocarbide was nearly stoichiometric; however, some alpha -uranium was present along with carbon contamination from the graphite thimbles. The use of tungsten- tipped electrodes in the arc-melting operation introduced about 0.3% of tungsten impurity. The composition of the pellets, as estimated from hydrolysis studies and chemical analyses was 92% UC, 3.5% UC/sub 2/, 4.0% uranium metal, and 0.3% WC. The UC pellets were encapsulated in niobium and subsequently shrunk-fit into a stainless steel cladding. The capsules were sealed by heliarc welding in a helium atmosphere chamber. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-17-018860
• OSTI ID: 4730509
• Report Number(s): ORNL-3403
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
ALLOTROPY
CASTING
CHEMICALS
CLEANING
COATING
CYLINDERS
ELECTRIC ARCS
FABRICATION
FUEL CANS
FUELS
GRAPHITE
HELIUM
MELTING
METALLOGRAPHY
NIOBIUM
PELLETS
PREPARATION
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
SEALS
STAINLESS STEELS
SURFACES
TUNGSTEN CARBIDES
URANIUM
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM-ALPHA
WATER
WELDING