INFLUENCE OF TEXTURE AND PHYSICAL MIXTURE OF UO3 AND C FOR CARBOREDUCTION OF UO3 INTO UO2

The carboreduction of UO3 into UO2 has been studied with an excess of carbon (C/U = 3 mole ratio). The results of thermogravimetric (TG) stu dies, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and SEM reveal that the carboreduction d epends upon the texture and the physical mixture of the precursors UO3 and carbon. Indeed, optimal carboreduction was obtained with an impro vement of UO3 and carbon grains contacts during the reduction. The pre paration of the mixture (UO3 + 3C) has been optimised by a slight manu al grinding. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.