Method for Reducing Plutonium Losses During Preparation of Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Carbide

摘要

A mixture of uranium dioxide, plutonium dioxide, and graphite is subjected to a carbothermic reduction, characterized by the following method steps in the established order: (a) grinding a mixture of uranium dioxide, plutonium dioxide, and graphite for 1 to 3 hours; (b) heating the ground mixture from (a) to a temperature above 1600 exp 0 K until the carbothermic reduction to mixed carbide seed formation sets in; (c) cooling the reacting mixture to a temperature in the region of 1300 exp 0 K to 1550 exp 0 K; (d) maintaining the temperature developing after cooling constant until abatement of the carbon monoxide evolution indicates complement of a first part step of the carbothermic reduction; and (e) reheating the reaction mixture to form a monophase, practically oxygen-free uranium-plutonium mixed carbide up to a temperature in the region of 1800 exp 0 K after the ad interim abatement of CO evolution and hence, the successful completion of a second part step of the carbothermic reduction, and then cooling the end product. (ERA citation 05:029341)