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Reactions During the Processing of U 3 O 8 —Al Cermet Fuels
Author(s) -
Marra John E.,
Peacock Harold B.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1991.tb06917.x
Subject(s) - cermet , exothermic reaction , melting point , materials science , redox , metallurgy , fabrication , chemical engineering , chemistry , ceramic , composite material , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
The cermet fuel (U 3 O 8 dispersed in Al) being considered for use in the Savannah River Site Reactors is thermodynamically unstable because of the potential for an exothermic metallothermic reduction reaction. This paper describes work performed to quantify the extent of reaction during powder metallurgy (P/M) processing of the U 3 O 8 —Al cermet fuel, and to determine the effect of partial reduction to U 4 O 9 on the metallothermic reduction reaction. During the fabrication of the U 3 O 8 —Al cermet fuel by the P/M technique, a significant portion of the U 3 O 8 is reduced to U 4 O 9 . The reaction between U 4 O 9 and Al is also exothermic; however, the maximum heat released by the reaction is substantially less than that released for the U 3 O 8 —Al reaction, approximately 335 J (80 cal) per gram of oxide reacted compared to 940 J (225 cal). Metallothermic reduction reactions for U 3 O 8 /U 4 O 9 /Al mixtures do not occur at the normal reactor operating temperature, ∼ 370 K (∼ 100°C) or at temperatures below the melting point of aluminum, 930 K (660°C).