Effects of gas phase impurities on the topochemical-kinetic behaviour of uranium hydride development

J. Bloch, D. Brami, A. Kremner, M. H. Mintz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hydriding kinetics of bulk uranium and U-0.1wt.%Cr, in the presence of oxidizing gaseous impurities (oxygen and CO), were studied by combined rate measurements and metallographic examinations of partially reacted samples. The effect of the gaseous impurity (type and concentration) was examined metallographically, and the kinetic data were discussed in relation to these examinations. Below about 100 °C the reaction of uranium with pure hydrogen consists of the following sequence of steps: 1. (i) surface nucleation; 2. (ii) homogeneous growth (pitting); 3. (iii) relatively fast lateral growth leading to the formation of a reaction front which penetrates into the sample at a constant rate. The effects of oxygen and CO on the hydriding kinetics were related to their abilities to block hydrogen penetration into the uranium. Thus, it was found that oxygen affects only the penetration through the oxide layer, whereas CO affects the penetration through both the oxide and hydride layers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)371-383
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of the Less-Common Metals
Volume139
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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