Hydrolysis of uranium carbide fuel beads

Abstract

The rate of hydrolysis of bare and defected coated UC$sub 2$ fuel bead cores by water vapor was studied over a wide range of temperature and water vapor partial pressures (24--76 torr). Reaction products and nature of the reaction were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The activation energy was determined to be 6.07 +-0.70 kcal/mole. The major gaseous reaction products were identified as C$sub 2$H$sub 6$, CH$sub 4$, and H$sub 2$. (17 fig) (DLC