Study determines the mechanical properties, including brittleness and ductility of several uranium compounds. These include uranium dioxide, uranium sulfide, and uranium phosphide

Beals, R. J.

Dragel, G. M.

Handwerk, J. H.

Tottle, C. R.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

June 1968	 Brief 68-10197 
•lit C
AEC-NASATECHBRIEF 
TES
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs describe innovations resulting from the research and development program 
of the U.S. AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are published by NASA and may be purchased, at 15 cents each, from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Study of Mechanical Properties of Uranium Compounds 
A study was initiated to determine the mechanical 
properties, including brittleness and ductility of 
several uranium comounds. These include uranium 
dioxide (UO2), uranil.im sulfide (US), and uranium 
phosphide (UP). 
It was found that UO2 has a brittle-ductile transi-
tion between 12500 and 1500'C. Up to 1250°C, im- 
posed strain caused a high modulus of rupture, but 
above this temperature maximum deflections in-
creased. At 1750°C, the rate of maximum stress to 
deflection was approximately constant, regardless of 
the strain rate, indicating an optimum plasticity for 
relaxation. 
US was tested with both UOS and UO2 as impuri-
ties. The brittle-ductile transition occurred at approxi-
mately 1000°C for the UOS-bearing compound, and 
at around 1250°C for that containing UO2. 
UP containing l% UO2 was found to have a transi-
tion temperature at approximately 1250°C. 
UO2 remained stronger than the other compounds 
tested at all temperatures except 10001 C, but was less 
plastic. US containing UOS was consistently the 
weakest material. The temperature dependence of 
stress was similar in all the materials between 1250° 
and 1750°C. 
Bars of UO2 were cold-pressed in a hardened steel 
die from high purity depleted UO2 powder. A Carbo-
wax binder (dissolved in hot water) was used during 
pressing and removed afterwards. Bars of US were 
formed in the same die used for the UO2 using US 
powder which was crushed, sieved to 100 mesh, and 
finally ball-milled. A binder of l% stearic acid was 
used and the powder was sintered at between 18000 
and 1850°C. A similar process was used in produc-
ing UP bars. 
Load-deflection tests were conducted at room tem-
perature, 10000 , 12500 , 15000 , 17500 , and 1900°C in
atmospheres consisting of air, helium, and hydrogen, 
as well as in a vacuum. The testing machine used for 
the tests was fitted with controlled straining gear. 
Three load rates (slow, medium, and fast) were used, 
and rate of loading and strain rate were measured and 
recorded. 
Complete details of this study are contained in: 
Mechanical Properties of Uranium Compounds, by 
C. R. Tottle, ANL-7070, Argonne National Labora-
tory, Argonne, Illinois, November 1965. Copies of 
this report are available from the Clearinghouse for 
Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Spring-
field, Virginia 22151; price: $3.00 microfiche $0.65. 
Notes: 
I. One binary system consisting of 62% UO2 and 38% 
UP, was tested and was found to have less strength 
but greater plasticity than either of its constituents. 
2. Additional details may be found in High Tempera-
ture Mechanical Properties of Uranium Com-
pounds, by R. J. Beals, J. H. Handwerk, and G. M. 
Dragel, September 14, 1967. This article was pre-
pared for presentation and publication in Proceed-
ings of the Third International Symposium on High 
Temperature Technology, Asilomar, California, 
on September 17-20, 1967 (in press). 
3. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Office of Industrial Cooperation 
Argonne National Laboratory 
9700 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439 
Reference: B68-10197 
Source: C. R. Tottle, R. J. Beats, 
J. H. Handwerk, and G. M. Dragel, 
Metallurgy Division
(ARG- 10074) 
(continued overleul) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per- method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-
son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any vately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19680000197 2020-03-12T05:36:52+00:00Z
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for commercial 
use of this innovation may be made to: 
Mr. George H. Lee, Chief 
Chicago Patent Group 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Chicago Operations Office 
9800 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439 
Brief 68-10197
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Study of mechanical properties of uranium compounds

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