MIS High-Purity Uranium/Plutonium Oxide Metal Oxidation Product SCP711-56 (SSR135): Final Report
A high-purity uranium/plutonium mixed oxide material from the Material Identification and Surveillance (MIS) Program inventory has been studied with regard to gas generation and corrosion in a storage environment. Sample SCP711-56 represents process plutonium oxides from mixed oxides at the Hanford Site, byproduct plutonium/uranium mixed oxides at the Rocky Flats Plant, Hanford Site mixed oxides at Savannah River, mixed oxides from alloy oxidation at Savannah River, scrap mixed oxides at Savannah River and plutonium/uranium oxide at Los Alamos National Laboratory that are currently stored in 3013 containers. After calcination to 950°C the material contains 17% fuel grade plutonium and 68% uranium with approximately 1.5% impurities and the remainder principally oxygen. This study followed over time the gas pressure of a sample with nominally 0.1 wt% water in a sealed container with an internal volume scaled to 1/500th of the volume of a 3013 container. Gas compositions were measured periodically over approximately 4 years. The maximum observed gas pressure was 115 kPa. The increase over the initial pressure of 83 kPa was primarily due to generation of carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases. A small amount of hydrogen was generated and oxygen was consumed. At the completion of the study, the internal components of the sealed container showed signs of corrosion, including pitting.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001
- OSTI ID:
- 1492636
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-19-20356
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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