PROCESS OF MAKING OXYGEN ENRICHED PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE (PUO2

摘要

1414560 Plutonium compounds NUCLEAR BATTERY CORP 31 Oct 1973 [2 Nov 1972] 50668/73 Heading G6R SP238/SPPuO 2 enriched in the SP16/SPO isotope is prepared by compressing SP238/SPPuO 2 into a pellet and heating the pellet to sintering temperature in an atmosphere of an inert gas, e.g. argon, and oxygen enriched in SP16/SPO. The pellet may be heated to 700‹ C. in an atmosphere containing more inert gas than oxygen, then to 950‹ C. in more oxygen than inert gas, to 1400‹ C. in more inert gas than oxygen, and then cooled in the same atmosphere. Suitable apparatus is described with reference to a drawing. Reduction of the content of SP17/SPO and SP18/SPO isotopes lowers the harmful neutron emission of the product.