Trends in the use of depleted uranium : report

173 Pages·1971·9.282 MB·English

by  National Research Council (U.S.). Ad Hoc Panel on Depleted Uranium., National Research Council (U.S.). National Materials Advisory Board

TRENDS IN THE USE OF
DEPLETED URANIUM
REPORT OF
THEADHOCPANELONDEPLETEDURANIUM
of the
’
COMMITTEE ON THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF
CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC MATERIALS
NATIONAL MATERIALS ADVISORY BOARD
-
Division of Engineering National Research Council
Publication NMAB-2 75
-
NaAonal Academy of Sciences National Academy f Engineering
Washington, D. C.
June 1971
@-
I
..*
~IUWTIONO F THIS UOCUMNT IS UNLIM
DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an
agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States
Government nor any agency Thereof, nor any of their employees,
makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal
liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or
usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process
disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately
owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product,
process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or
otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement,
recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any
agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein
do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States
Government or any agency thereof.
DISCLAIMER

Portions of this document may be illegible in
electronic image products. Images are produced
from the best available original document.
This report is one of a series in a study undertaken by the National Materials
Advi ory Board for the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of
Engineering in partial execution of work under Contract No. GS-OO-DS-(P)-94008
with the General Services Administration on behalf of the General Services Admin-
istration, the Office of Emergency Preparedness, and the Department of Commerce.
Partial financial support of this contract was provided by the U. S. Bureau of Mines.
As a part of the National Research Council, the National Materials Advisory Board
performs study, evaluation, or advisory functions through groups composed of
individuals selected from academic, governmental, and industrial sources for their
competence and interest in the subject under consideration. Members of these groups
serve as individuals contributing their personal knowledge and judgments and not as
representatives of any organization in which they are employed or with which they
may be associated.
The quantitative data published in this report are intended only to illustrate the scope
and substance of information considered in the study, and should not be used for any
other purpose, such as in specifications or in design, unless so stated.
No portion of this report may be
republished without prior approval
of the National Materials Advisory
Board.
For sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia
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ii
NATIONAL MATERIALS ADVISORY BOARD
COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC MATERIALS
Chairman: Mr. David C. Goldberg, Manager, Materials Department, Astronuclear
Laboratory, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, P. 0. Box 10864,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 152 36.
Members: Dr. Allen G. Gray, Director, Publications, American Society for
Metals, Metals Park, Ohio 44073.
Dr. John C. Hamaker, Jr. , President, Primary Products Operations,
Industrial & Commercial Metals Group, Whittaker Corporation, 9229
Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90069.
Dr. Robert J. Raudebaugh, Assistant to the Manager, Paul D. Merica
Research Laboratory, The International Nickel Company, Inc. ,
Suffern. New York 10901.
Dr. John D. Ridge, Head, Department of Mineral Economics, College
of Earth & Mineral Sciences, Minerals Industries Building, The
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802.
Mr. Roger J. Runck, Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue,
Columbus, Ohio 43201.
Mr. George J. Wile, President, Polymet Corporation, 11 West Sharon
Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246.
Liaison Representatives:
Mr. Alfred Bergmann, Hdq. U. S. Army Materiel Command,
ATTN: AMC RP-OlP, Washington, D. C. 20315.
Mr. Harry M. Callaway, Office of Metals and Minerals, Bureai of
Domestic Commerce, U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington,
D.C. 20230.
iii
Mr. Samuel Goldberg, Code 5203, Naval Air Systems Command,
i
Department of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 20360. eY
Dr. Earl T. Hayes, Chief Scientist, U. S. Bureau of Mines, U. S.
Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 20240.
Mr. Harold Kirkemo, Chief, Office of Minerals Exploration, U. S.
Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 20240.
Mr. Frank Lamb, Deputy Assistant Director, Mineral Supplies, U. S.
Bureau of Mines, U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
20240.
Mr. A. W. Luther, Jr., U.S. Air Force, RDPJ, 907 CWP, Roqnlyn,
Virginia, ??2C 9.
Mr. James M. Owens, Director, Office of Basic Materials,
Bureau of Domestic Commerce, U. S. Department of Commerce,
Washington, D. C. 20230.
Mr. L. R. Davis, Office of Assistant Secretary of Uefense, Installa-
tions and Lcgistics, The Pentagon, Washington, D. C. 20310.
Mr. Julius Teres, AFML (MAA), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio 45433.
Mr. D. A. Woodard, Acting Director, Market & Technical Services
Division, General Services Administration, Washington, D. C. 20405.
NMAB Staff: Mr. Ben A. Kornhauser, Staff Engineer, National Materials Advisory
Board, Division of Engineering, National Research Council, NAS/NAE,
2101 Constitution Avenue, Washington, D. C. 20418.
iv
NATIONAL MATERIALS ADVISORY BOARD
COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC MATERIALS
PANEL ON DEPLETED URANIUM
Chairman: Dr. Harley A. Wilhelm, Professor and Principal Scientist, Ames
Laboratory of U. S. Atomic Energy Commission and Institute for
Atomic Research, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010.
Members: Mr. Michael J. Connor, Uranium Management, Nuclear Fuels
Division, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, P. 0. Box 355,
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15230.
Dr. Charles E. Crompton, Director of Research, Inorganic Division,
Chemetron Corp., 1250 Terminal Tower, Cleveland, Ohio 44113.
Mr. Martin S. Farkas, Metals & Minerals Economic Division,
Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201.
Mr. S. L. Gertsman, Physical Metallurgy Division, Department of
Energy, Mines & Resources, 568 Booth Street, Ottawa 4, Ontario,
Canada.
Mr. George Rennich, Production Division, Oak Ridge Operations
Office, AEC, P. 0. Box E, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830.
Mr. Alexander Stewart, Jr. , Manager, Nuclear Division, National
Lead Company, 1130 Central Avenue, Albany, New York 12205.
Liaison Representatives :
Mr. L. R. Davis, Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense, Installa-
tions and Logistics, The Pentagon, Washington, D. C. 20310.
Mr. E. Loeb, Industry Specialist, Bureau of Domestic Commerce,
U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. 20230.
'
Mr. Max Osias, National Resource Analysis Center, Office of
Emergency Preparedness, Washington, D. C. 20504.
V
Mr. F. J. Rizzitano, Chief, Process Development Division, Army
Materiel Command, U.S. Army Materials & Mech. Res. Center,
Watertown, Mass. 02172.
Mr. Charles E. Shortt, Environmental Protection Agency, 5600
Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20050.
Mr. D. A. Woodard, Acting Director, Market & Technical Services
Division, General Services Administration, Washington, D. C. 20406.
NMAB Staff: Mr. Ben A. Kornhauser, Staff Engineer, National Materials Advisory
Board, Division of Engineering, National Research Council, NAS/NAE,
2101 Constitution Avenue, Washington, D. C. 20418.
vi
CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT xi
1
I. SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Conclusions 1
B. Recommendations 5
11. INTRODUCTION 6
References 9
111. SUPPLY OF DEPLETED URANIUM 10
IV. PRESENT NONENERGY CONSUMPTION OF URANIUM 12
A. Introduction 12
B. Ballast and Counterweights 13
C. Radiation Shielding 15
D. Ordnance Applications 16
E. Current Use of Uranium as a Catalyst 21
V. POTENTIAL USES OF DEPLETED URANIUM 23
A. Introduction 23
B. Pricing of Depleted Uranium 24
C. Potential for Uranium as a Catalyst 25
D. The Metallurgy and Chemistry of Uranium 30
E. High Density Applications 35
,
F. Uranium in Ceramics 40
Annotated Bibliography 46
G. Radiation Shielding 48
R e f ere nc e s 53
H. Considered Miscellaneous Uses of Depleted Uranium 55
I. Utilization of Energy 56
I
General References 58
APPENDIX A POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS OF NORMAL AND
DEPLETED URANIUM 59
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CONTENTS (Cont'd. )
Page
APPENDIX B BIBLIOGRAPHY ON URANIUM OXIDES AS
EFFECTIVE CATALYSTS 63
1. Gxidation of Organics 65
2. Polymerization 66
3. Hydrogenation- dehy dro genation 67
4. Reforming 68
APPENDIX C THE METALLURGY OF URANIUM 71 i
I. Properties and General Alloying Behavior
of Uranium Metal 73
R ef ere nce s 82
11. Alloys of Uranium 83
A. Uranium in Ferrous Metallurgy 83
B. Uranium in Nonferrous Metallurgy 94
References 99
APPENDIX D BIBLIOGRAPHY--URANIUM AS AN ALLOYING
ELEMENT 101
I. General References 103
11. Uranium in Plain and Low-Carbon Steels 105
111. Uranium in High-Alloy Steels 110
IV. Uranium in Cast Irons 112
V. Uranium in Nonferrous Alloys 113
VI. Patents 116
APPENDIX E THE CHEMISTRY OF URANIUM 119
I. General 121
11. Properties of Uranium Compounds 125
References 129
APPENDIX F UR,ANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE UF6 131
References 138
APPENDIX G SUPPLY, PRICE, AND DELIVERY OF TAILS 139
I. Supply from Private Ownership 141
11. Supply from the U. S. Atomic Energy
Commission 141
111. Price and Delivery 145
References 146
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