ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES--NUCLEAR ASPECTS. Final Report for December 1, 1956-June 30, 1959. Vitro Job 2091

The feasibility of the electrophoretic (electrokinetic) coating process has been demonstrated for a number of nuclear applications. The major portion of the experimental program was directed toward work which leads to: development of electrophoretic coatings which should be useful for the protection of graphite and graphite fuel elements against physical and chemical attack under reactor conditions. Several of these coatings also show promise for fission product retention; a technique for applying, electrophoretically. solid lubricant-metal matrix coatings for use at elevated temperatures and in high nuclear flux environments; and an electrophoretic method for applying impervious aluminum oxide coatings on ceramic fuel elements for fission product retention. Other experimental work, (special evaluation studies) of a more limited nature, was directed toward establishing the utility of the electrophoretic process for: applying on UO/sub 2/ platelets chromium coatings to act as a diffusion barrier between the platelet and the canning material; depositing cadmium coatings on mild steel for use as control rods; applying coatings on graphite which would act as barriers against diffusion of fission products under special LMFRE tests; and applying thick (15-20 mil), dense molybdenum coatings on stainless steel. (auth