THE FABRICATION AND PROPERTIES OF URANIUM OXIDE–IRON CERMETS

Abstract

Cermets of iron–uranium dioxide, containing up to 30 vol.-% UO₂ have been rolled to rod. Although the cores rolled centrally along the length, the core was distorted in section owing to stiffening of the core relative to the sheath as the temperature dropped during rolling. The UO₂ particles were fragmented during rolling and formed as “stringers” along the direction of rolling, seriously weakening the structure transversely.

By extrusion at 1200° C., cermets containing up to 50 vol.-% UO₂ were satisfactorily fabricated. The extrusion pressure increased sharply above 35 vol.-% of ceramic and when large reductions in area were taken. The extrusion characteristics do not conform to isotropic plastic extrusion nor to a pure viscosity effect; the influence of the dispersed particles on metal flow is explained by a strong interference effect between particles and the metal during flow. The properties of the extruded rods were good; the core density was 90–95% of theoretical, decreasing slightly with increasing ceramic content; there were no obvious directional properties in the core, nor was the ceramic fragmented as in rolling. The characteristic “tail-end defect” of the extrusions was partly corrected by using shaped sealing plugs.

Notes

* Manuscript received 16 October 1958. Contribution to a Symposium on “The Powder Metallurgy of Metal–Ceramic Materials”, to be held in London on 17 December 1958.