US3717454A - Uranium-base alloys - Google Patents
Uranium-base alloys Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3717454A US3717454A US00044611A US3717454DA US3717454A US 3717454 A US3717454 A US 3717454A US 00044611 A US00044611 A US 00044611A US 3717454D A US3717454D A US 3717454DA US 3717454 A US3717454 A US 3717454A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- percent
- uranium
- phase
- alloys
- alloy
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- 229910052770 Uranium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- JFALSRSLKYAFGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N uranium(0) Chemical compound [U] JFALSRSLKYAFGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 2
- 229910000711 U alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 abstract description 14
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 abstract description 14
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 abstract description 9
- 229910002058 ternary alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 5
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000003758 nuclear fuel Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 229910002056 binary alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- 229910000676 Si alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 238000000137 annealing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 210000001787 dendrite Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000008961 swelling Effects 0.000 description 3
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zirconium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Zr]=O MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- FSVQVLHGIXXZGC-UHFFFAOYSA-N [Si].[U] Chemical compound [Si].[U] FSVQVLHGIXXZGC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910002796 Si–Al Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007872 degassing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010419 fine particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000031070 response to heat Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C43/00—Alloys containing radioactive materials
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
- G21C3/42—Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel
- G21C3/58—Solid reactor fuel Pellets made of fissile material
- G21C3/60—Metallic fuel; Intermetallic dispersions
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors
Definitions
- Alloys within the scope of this invention have from 3.5 to 3.7 wt. percent silicon, from 0.1 to 1.5 wt. percent aluminum and balance uranium (except for impurities). With less silicon, free uranium remains and the high temperature water corrosion resistance suffers, while with more silicon an excess amount of the brittle dendrite U Si phase is formed which cannot be removed by subsequent heat treatment. Below 0.1 wt. percent Al, the improvement in fabrication and annealing behavior is negligible and above 1.5 wt. percent Al, the neutron economy, and corrosion resistance are poor. Preferred ranges are 3.53 to 3.58 wt. percent Si and 0.3 to 1.25 wt. percent Al. The total silicon plus aluminum should be sufficient to combine with all of the U metal phase during heat treatment.
- the heat treatment of the alloys is necessary to optimize corrosion resistance and produce material of maximum density by forming a delta phase U Si matrix, a uniformly dispersed U-Al phase and at most only isolated fine particles of ms,
- the temperature should be at least about 800C but should not be above about 850C.
- the heat treatment is continued until substantially complete transformation of the U-Si to delta phase U Si has occurred (usually about 72 to 144 hours).
- EXAMPLE 1 Alloys were produced by induction melting in a high frequency furnace under a slight positive pressure of argon (to avoid degassing of the melt and the formation of large pores in the castings).
- the Si was added in the form of U Si bar and the Al as virgin metal.
- Zirconia crucibles were used in the furnace and the melt was cast into a graphite mold in the form of 15 mm diam. bars.
- the melt temperature was about 1,500C.
- the castings were then heat treated for 72 hours at 800C to form the delta U Si phase.
- the alloys were then corrosion tested in 300C water and typical results are shown in Table I.
- the corrosion resistance of the 2.26 wt. percent Si alloy was very poor, but all of the higher Si alloys were comparable to the binary U Si alloy. The workability of these latter alloys was good and they could be extruded, cold-worked and otherwise fabricated without brittle fracture.
- Metallographic examination confirmed a matrix structure of delta U Si with no free uranium for the 3.5 3.7 wt. percent Si alloys.
- the 2.26 wt. percent Si alloy had large areas of untransformed free uranium in the structure after the heat treatment.
- EXAMPLE 2 Response to heat treatment of the alloys containing 0.3 and 0.6 wt. percent Al from Ex. 1 was determined on re-casting in a vacuum furnace and slowly cooling to give large U Si dendrites approximately pm in width, together with a free U phase. A U-3.67 wt. percent Si binary alloy was also re-cast as a control. Samples from these casn'ngs were heat treated at 800C for 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, l0 and 22 days and the thickness of the U Si delta phase rim measured. Results indicated that the ternary alloys of the present invention transformed completely to the delta phase within 22 days whereas the binary alloy did not transform completely. Transformation of the ternary alloy was complete in 10-15 days.
- EXAMPLE 3 A U-3.6 wt. percent Si 0.5 wt. percent Al ternary alloy and a U-4.0 wt. percent Si binary alloy were prepared and transformed to delta phase U Si as in Ex. 1. The alloys were then irradiated in a nuclear reactor for 60 full-power-days. There was no difference in behavior between the two alloys after a bum-up of 2000 MWd/T, showing that the ternary addition gives irradiation properties at least as good as the binary alloys.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
- Particle Accelerators (AREA)
- Debarking, Splitting, And Disintegration Of Timber (AREA)
- Preventing Corrosion Or Incrustation Of Metals (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA54506 | 1969-06-16 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3717454A true US3717454A (en) | 1973-02-20 |
Family
ID=4085351
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US00044611A Expired - Lifetime US3717454A (en) | 1969-06-16 | 1970-06-08 | Uranium-base alloys |
Country Status (11)
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4023992A (en) * | 1973-06-28 | 1977-05-17 | Atomic Energy Of Canada Limited | Uranium-base alloys |
| RU2760902C1 (ru) * | 2021-05-11 | 2021-12-01 | Российская Федерация, от имени которой выступает Государственная корпорация по атомной энергии "Росатом" | Сплав на основе урана (варианты) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0033475B2 (de) * | 1980-02-02 | 1989-05-03 | Kümmerlin, Helga | Bockleiter |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1332984A (fr) * | 1961-09-01 | 1963-07-19 | Nukem Gmbh | Alliages d'uranium et combustibles nucléaires contenant lesdits alliages |
-
1969
- 1969-06-16 CA CA885927A patent/CA885927A/en not_active Expired
-
1970
- 1970-06-08 US US00044611A patent/US3717454A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1970-06-10 GB GB28121/70A patent/GB1278542A/en not_active Expired
- 1970-06-11 NL NL7008510A patent/NL7008510A/xx unknown
- 1970-06-15 FR FR707021973A patent/FR2046798B1/fr not_active Expired
- 1970-06-15 SE SE08237/70A patent/SE357089B/xx unknown
- 1970-06-15 NO NO2315/70A patent/NO125398B/no unknown
- 1970-06-15 BE BE752005D patent/BE752005A/xx unknown
- 1970-06-15 DK DK308270AA patent/DK126696B/da unknown
- 1970-06-16 JP JP45051632A patent/JPS5013728B1/ja active Pending
- 1970-06-27 IT IT69239/70A patent/IT942056B/it active
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1332984A (fr) * | 1961-09-01 | 1963-07-19 | Nukem Gmbh | Alliages d'uranium et combustibles nucléaires contenant lesdits alliages |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| Metallurgical Structure in a High Uranium Silicon Alloy; Wyatt et al.; Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd., Chalk River AECL 2761 * |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4023992A (en) * | 1973-06-28 | 1977-05-17 | Atomic Energy Of Canada Limited | Uranium-base alloys |
| RU2760902C1 (ru) * | 2021-05-11 | 2021-12-01 | Российская Федерация, от имени которой выступает Государственная корпорация по атомной энергии "Росатом" | Сплав на основе урана (варианты) |
| WO2022240311A1 (ru) * | 2021-05-11 | 2022-11-17 | Российская Федерация, от имени которой выступает Государственная корпорация по атомной энергии "Росатом" | Сплав на основе урана (варианты) |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2029789B2 (de) | 1977-05-18 |
| NL7008510A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1970-12-18 |
| BE752005A (fr) | 1970-11-16 |
| NO125398B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1972-09-04 |
| CA885927A (en) | 1971-11-16 |
| FR2046798A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1971-03-12 |
| GB1278542A (en) | 1972-06-21 |
| FR2046798B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1973-01-12 |
| DK126696B (da) | 1973-08-13 |
| SE357089B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1973-06-12 |
| IT942056B (it) | 1973-03-20 |
| DE2029789A1 (de) | 1971-01-07 |
| JPS5013728B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1975-05-22 |
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