The Metallurgy of Nuclear Fuel: Properties and Principles of the Technology of Uranium, Thorium and Plutonium is a systematic analysis of the metallurgy of nuclear fuel, with emphasis on the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties as well as the technology of uranium, thorium, and plutonium, together with their alloys and compounds. The minerals and raw material sources of nuclear fuel are discussed, along with the principles of the technology of the raw material processing and the production of the principal compounds, and of the pure metals and alloys.
Comprised of three parts, this volume begins with an introduction to the history of the discovery of uranium and its position in the periodic system; its use as a nuclear fuel; radioactivity and isotopic composition; alloys and compounds; and physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. The effect of mechanical and thermal treatment, thermal cycling and irradiation on the physicochemical properties of uranium is also examined. The next two sections are devoted to thorium and plutonium and includes chapters dealing with their uses, alloys and compounds, and methods of recovery and purification.
This book is written for university students, but should also prove useful to young production engineers and scientific workers who are concerned with problems in the metallurgy of nuclear fuel.
Inhalt
Preface
Part 1. Uranium
Chapter I. Introduction
§ 1. History of the Discovery of Uranium and its Position in the Periodic System
§ 2. Use of Uranium
§ 3. Uranium as a Nuclear Fuel
§ 4. Radioactivity and Isotopic Composition of Uranium
Chapter II. Physical Properties of Uranium
§ 1. Crystalline Structure of Uranium
§ 2. Density of Uranium
§ 3. Thermodynamic Properties of Uranium
§ 4. The Coefficients of Thermal Expansion of Uranium
§ 5. Elastic Properties of Uranium
§ 6. Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Uranium
Chapter III. Mechanical Properties of Uranium
§ 1. General Characteristics
§ 2. Tensile Properties of Uranium
§ 3. Tensile Strength of Uranium in Endurance Tests
§ 4. Hardness of Uranium
§ 5. Impact Strength of Uranium
Chapter IV. The Effect of Mechanical and Thermal Treatment on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Uranium
§ 1. Compressive Properties of Uranium
§ 2. Plastic Deformation and the Grain Structure of Uranium
§ 3. Heat Treatment of Uranium
§ 4. Recrystallisation of a-Uranium
Chapter V. The Effect of Thermal Cycling and Irradiation on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Uranium
§ 1. Effect of Thermal Cycling
§ 2. The Effect of Irradiation
§ 3. Causes of Irradiation Growth in Uranium
§ 4. Gaseous Swelling of Uranium
§ 5. Mechanical Properties of Uranium During and after Irradiation
Chapter VI. The Chemical Properties of Uranium Metal
§ 1. The Reaction of Uranium with Gases (O2, N2 and H2)
§ 2. Reaction of Uranium with Water and Steam
§ 3. The Reaction of Uranium with Other Gases
§ 4. The Reaction of Uranium with Carbon
§ 5. Reaction of Uranium with Liquid Metals
§ 6. Reaction of Uranium with Element Jackets
Chapter VII. Uranium Alloys
§ 1. General Characteristics and Requirements of Uranium Alloys
§ 2. Uranium as an Alloying Element
§ 3. Uranium-Molybdenum Alloys
§ 4. Uranium-Aluminium Alloys
§ 5. Uranium-Zirconium Alloys
§ 6. Uranium-Fission Fragment Alloys
Chapter VIII. Compounds of Uranium with Oxygen
§ 1. Chemistry of Uranium Compounds
§ 2. Uranium Oxides
§ 3. Uranium Oxide Hydrates
§ 4. Uranium Dioxide as Fuel
§ 5. The Production of UO3 Powders
§ 6. Preparation of Ceramics from UO2 Powders
§ 7. Properties of Sintered UO2
Chapter IX. High-Melting Compounds of Uranium with Carbon, Nitrogen, Silicon, Beryllium, Boron and Sulphur
§ 1. Uranium-Carbon Compounds
§ 2. Compounds of Uranium with Nitrogen
§ 3. Compounds of Uranium with Silicon
§ 4. Compounds of Uranium with Beryllium
§ 5. Compounds of Uranium with Boron
§ 6. Compounds of Uranium with Sulphur
Chapter X. Compounds of Uranium with Fluorine
§ 1. Uranium Tetrafluoride
§ 2. Complex Compounds of UF4
§ 3. Uranium Hexafluoride
Chapter XI. Uranium Ores and Deposits
§ 1. Uranium in the Earth's Crust
§ 2. Uranium Minerals
§ 3. Uranium Deposits
§ 4. Technological Grades of Uranium Ores
Chapter XII. Methods of Concentrating Uranium Ores
§ 1. Choice of the Method of Concentration
§ 2. Crushing and Grinding of the Ore
§ 3. Leaching of Uranium Ores
§ 4. Recovery of Uranium from Solutions
§ 5. Composition of Uranium Ore Concentrates
Chapter XIII. Methods of Purifying Uranium Ore Concentrates
§ 1. Purity Requirements of Uranium and Choice of Purification Method
§ 2. Precipitation Methods
§ 3. Extraction Methods of Purifying Uranium
Chapter XIV. Industrial Methods of Obtaining UO2, UF4 and UF6
§ 1. The Production of UO2
§ 2. Production of UF4
§ 3. Production of UF6
Chapter XV. Methods of Producing Uranium Metal
§ 1. Brief Historical Data
§ 2. Fundamental Data of the Metallothermy of Uranium
§ 3. Reduction of UF4 by Calcium
§ 4. Reduction of UF4 by Magnesium
§ 5. Reduction of UO2 by Calcium and Magnesium
§ 6. Electrolytic Method of Obtaining Uranium
Chapter XVI. Refining and Processing of Uranium
§ 1. Vacuum Refining and Casting of Uranium
§ 2. Working of Uranium by Compression and Cutting
§ 3. Powder Metallurgy of Uranium
§ 4. The Production of Uranium Alloys
Part 2. Thorium
Chapter I. Thorium Metal
§ 1. History of the Discovery of Thorium and its Position in the Periodic System
§ 2. Thorium as a Nuclear Fuel
§ 3. Other Fields of Application of Thorium and its Production Scales
§ 4. Radioactivity and Isotopic Composition of Thorium
§ 5. Physical Properties of Thorium
§ 6. Mechanical Properties of Thorium
§ 7. Chemical Properties of Thorium
Chapter II. Important Alloys and Compounds of Thorium
§1. Thorium Alloys 355
§ 2. Thorium Dioxide 360
§ 3. Thorium Carbides, Nitrides and Sulphides 364
§ 4. Halide Compounds of Thorium 368
Chapter III. Raw Material Resources and Processing of Thorium Ores
§ 1. Distribution of Thorium in Nature and its Minerals
§ 2. Deposits, Resources and Mining of Thorium
§ 3. Concentration of Monazite
Chapter IV. Processing of Monazite Concentrates
§ 1. Sulphate Method of Treating the Monazite Concentrate
§ 2. Alkali Method of Treating Monazite
§ 3. Separation of the Hydroxides of Thorium and the Rare Earth Elements
Chapter V. Preparation of Pure Thorium Compounds
§ 1. Method of Fractional Neutralisation
§ 2. Method of Precipitation of Hydrated Thorium Sulphate