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The Influence of Vacuum Annealing on the Nucleation and Growth Kinetics of Uranium Hydride

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2012

J.P. Knowles
Affiliation:
AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, UK © British Crown Owned Copyright 2012/AWE
I.M. Findlay
Affiliation:
AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, UK © British Crown Owned Copyright 2012/AWE
D.A. Geeson
Affiliation:
AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, UK © British Crown Owned Copyright 2012/AWE
S.G. Bazley
Affiliation:
AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, UK © British Crown Owned Copyright 2012/AWE
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Abstract

The reaction kinetics of depleted uranium under constant hydrogen pressure (1 bar) have been measured as a function of reaction temperatures between 65 and 385 °C for as-polished and vacuum annealed samples. Enhanced hydrogen reactivity was observed on samples that underwent vacuum annealing prior to hydrogen exposure. The enhanced reactivity was found to be the result of enhanced nucleation rates on annealed samples since the specific rate per reacting unit area remained unaffected. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrates that the nucleation kinetics were promoted on annealed samples as a result of the dehydration and partial reduction of the UO2+x outer oxide layer and the formation of an oxycarbide (UOxCy) sub-layer.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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