Abstract:
The dynamics of the thermal chemical reactions of UF
4 in oxygen or hydrated (relative humidity of 93%) oxygen environments were studied by micro-laser Raman spectroscopy (MLRS), gravimetry and topology techniques. The variabilities about mass and color of UF
4 were obtained at different temperatures and time, and the Raman spectra were also obtained for the reactants and the products. In both conditions, UF
4 is stable at 200 ℃ with nearly no changes in its Raman spectra. However the Raman spectra suggest the formation of UO
2F
2, UO
2 and U
3O
8 in oxygen and UO
2F
2, UO
2F
2•2H
2O, UO
2F
2•
nH
2O, UO
2 and U
3O
8 in the hydrated oxygen at 250-600 ℃. On the other hand, the chemical reaction rate of UF
4 in oxygen shows the trend from slow to fast and then to slow.