An investigation of the reaction between sodium and hyperstoichiometric urania

Abstract A study of the reaction between liquid sodium and pellets of hyperstoichiometric urania has been carried out at temperatures between 450°C and 900°C, and mechanisms of reaction have been proposed. The interaction at low temperature, 450°C, appears to be more damaging to the pellets than the reactions at the higher temperatures. This behaviour might be attributed to the intermediate formation of Na 2 O in the grain boundaries at the lower temperatures, whereas at the higher temperatures sodium uranate, Na 3 UO 4 , is formed.