The Melt Refining of Irradiated Uranium: Application to EBR-II Fast Reactor Fuel. IV. Interaction of Uranium and Its Alloys with Refractory Oxides

C. L. Rosen; N. R. Chellew; H. M. Feder

doi:dx.doi.org/10.13182/NSE59-A15510

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The Melt Refining of Irradiated Uranium: Application to EBR-II Fast Reactor Fuel. IV. Interaction of Uranium and Its Alloys with Refractory Oxides

C. L. Rosen, N. R. Chellew, H. M. Feder

Nuclear Science and Engineering / Volume 6 / Number 6 / December 1959 / Pages 504-510

dx.doi.org/10.13182/NSE59-A15510

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Sessile drops of liquid uranium on five refractory oxide substrates were studied photographically. The volume expansion on melting (ca. 3%), the contact angles (135 ± 3° in each case) and the surface tension of the liquid (826 ± 10% dynes/cm.) were determined. The reactions of liquid uranium with alumina or magnesia proceed stoichiometrically to the expected products. The reactions with zirconia, thoria, and beryllia yield oxygen-deficient substrates and only small amounts of the corresponding metal in solution. The kinetics and reaction mechanism are discussed. Some effects of alloying on these phenomena are also noted.