THE FLUORINATION OF URANIUM AND ZIRCONIUM-OXIDES WITH XENON DIFLUORIDE INITIATED BY THE ADDITION OF WATER

At room temperature, XeF5 crystals do not react to any appreciable ext ent with UO2, U3O8 or ZrO2 powders but these mixtures can be induced t o react in air without heating by the addition of a drop of water. The re appeared to be distinct stages of reaction: (i) an initial, relativ ely slow reaction in the aqueous phase and (ii) a subsequent violent r eaction. Depending upon the conditions employed, the products of react ion were either the metal fluoride or oxyfluoride. (C) 1998 Elsevier S cience S.A.