The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 17, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 22, 1995
Hiroaki Kobayashi, Hitachinaka, JP;
Hiroshi Igarashi, Hitachinaka, JP;
Michiru Fujita, Ichihara, JP;
Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan, Tokyo-to, JP;
Abstract
A flux for effectively melt-decontaminating a zircaloy contaminated with a radioactive contaminant Pu.sub.2 O.sub.3 is provided. The flux comprises a mixture of a metal flux of a metal (e.g. Ca or Mg) having a higher chemical activity than plutonium at a temperature above the melting point of the zircaloy with a halide flux of metallic compound (e.g. SnF.sub.2, PbF.sub.2, CoF.sub.2, CsF.sub.2) of a halogen element having a higher atomic number than fluorine and has a smaller absolute value of the standard free energy of formation than a fluorination product of plutonium (i.e. PuOF). The addition of the flux to a molten zircaloy causes plutonium contained in the melt to be converted, through a two-step reaction, to PuOF which can be then separated as slag.