DU (Depleted Uranium) Chip Recovery Program. Phase I. A Machining Study for the Production of Contaminant-Free Chips.

摘要

The present depleted uranium (DU) machining process used in the production of the M774 and M833 DU penetrators incurs excessive costs due to the necessity for burial of the radioactive metal turnings (chips). The alternative to burial was the recycling of the chips to form usable depleted uranium thereby eliminating disposal problems and increasing the supply of depleted uranium. An inert atmosphere was proposed to produce contaminate-free chips that will allow remelting to required chemical specifications of the penetrator material. A lathe enclosure was designed to provide a controlled atmosphere of argon gas maintaining a positive pressure of 0.25 psi within. Dry argon gas was used as a coolant at the tool workpiece interface. The chips were analyzed for oxygen and carbon content; the contaminants most critical to the remelting of the chips. The chemical analysis showed consistently low oxygen and carbon pick-up. The significance of these results was substantiated by the successful melting of depleted uranium chips in an electric resistance furnace at AMMRC. (Author)