THE INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF URANIUM ON ITS BEHAVIOR UNDER IRRADIATION

Tests showed that composition and working conditions (deformations in alpha phase and thermal treatment) can alter the radioinduced deformations in uranium specimens. Studies were made of radioinduced changes in the uranium crystal grain, stability, and yield in relation to the content of iron, silicon, and aluminum. It was found that radiation accelerates the uranium yield about 50 to 100 times (nv =6 x 10/sup 12/ neutron/cm/sup 2/ sec), i.e., in the order of 1.5 to 2.0 for textured and disoriented structures. The yield rate of uranium specimens with dlsoriented structure is related to tbe rate of the burnout. The expansion properties of uranium were tested directly in the reactor, and results showed that the relative elongation was reduced and stability was improved after the specimen was in the neutron field for 1 hour. (tr-auth)