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ANP PROJECT QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT
4-
. .... . 1
NaZiF5 20 40 60 so
NoUFs CONCENTRATION (mole o/o)
FUEL MIXTURES CONTAINING UC1,
R. J. Sheil C. J. Barton
Materials Chemistry Division
Thermal data for a number of binary
chloride systems ~ont~aining UC1, or
UC1, mixed with various alkali and
alkaline earth chlorides have been
reported previously.( In the
previous work, only the binary Systems
of the uranium compounds with NaCl and
KC1 were studied in sufficient detail
to permit construction of equilibrium
diagrams. The eutectics shown for the
NaC1-UC1, and the KC1-UC1, systems
m e l t at much lower temperatures
(370 and 350°C, respectively) than do
(l)C. A. Kraus, Phase Diagram of Some Complex
Salts of Uranium with Halides of the Alkali and
Alkaline Earth Metal, M-251 (July 1, 1943).
108
Fig. 10. 2. The System NaZrF,-NaIJF,.
NaUF5
the corresponding fluoride eutectics.
Although the eutectics reported for
UC1, with these materials have higher
melting points than those of the
corresponding UC1, systems, they still
compare favorably with the fluorides.
The high vapor pressure of UC1, w i l l
present obvious difficulties in the
use of these mixtures at very high
temperatures; however, the vapor
pressure of the mixtures containing
UCl, should be considerably more
f avorabl e.
Preliminary studies have shown
that some refinements in technique
w i l l be required before the very
hygroscopic and reactive UC1, can be
handled in the apparatus without being
contaminated. Graphite crucibles were
found to be quite permeable to UC1,