The preparation of UO2 powder: Effect of ammonium uranate properties

Abstract Ammonium uranate (AU) powders were precipitated from a uranyl nitrate solution with gaseous ammonia. The decomposition of the powders in hydrogen was studied to determine those properties of AU which affect the decomposition reactions and influence the properties of the final UO 2 powder. The thermal decomposition was affected by the initial composition (ammonia and nitrate content) and the morphology of the AU powders. The amount of self-reduction increased with increasing combined ammonia content and decreased with increasing nitrate content. The specific surface area of the decomposed powder increased with increasing total ammonia content and initial surface area of the precursor AU powder. Thermal treatment of the decomposed powder can be used to modify such effects and, in commercial powder production, is used to control the properties of the final UO 2 powder.