Actinide carbide product and method of making

摘要

Substantially pure actinide carbide in the form of uniform, non-pyrophoric spherical particles may be made by mixing an actinide oxide with the stoichiometric amount of carbon and passing the resultant mixture through an inert gas environment at 10,000 DEG to 13,000 DEG C. The reaction may be carried out in a plasma-producing flame device. As shown, the device comprises a plastic frame 1 provided with cooling water inlet and outlet 2 and 3 and an inlet 4 for an inert gas suitably argon or helium. Electrodes 5 and 6, the latter being adjustable, are also provided. The reactant mixture in the form of a powder is fed from hopper 19 to the injection inlet 18, entering the discharge tunnel 13 a short distance behind the orifice 15 formed in electrode 5. The powder is entrained by the flame 14 from which it issues as a stream of uniform spherical particles 25. The particles are conducted via duct 26 into receptacle 27 provided with a one-way vent 29 to allow the inert gases to escape into the atmosphere. A starter 28 is provided. The actinide oxide powder such as UO2 may be mixed with any pure carbon such as carbon black or channel black preferably with a minor proportion of a binder such as carbowax. The dried mixture may be pressed into small pellets which are then crushed and sized, particles of -100+200 U.S. mesh being used for the process.