Author: David F. Bowersox
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Chemical kinetics
Languages : en
Pages : 12

View

Book Description

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

View

Book Description
The effects of pressure and temperature upon the rate and mechanism of the reaction between plutonium and deuterium have been studied for temperatures to 400°C at pressures from 1 to 15 kPa. The rate was determined by measuring the weight changes of plutonium disks as the reaction proceeded. Below 200°C the reaction product spalled to expose fresh metal. The equation R = k/sub T/AP°.6 fits the data, where the rate R is the milliequivalents of deuterium reacting per hour, A is the geometrical surface area, P is the deuterium pressure, and k/sub T/ is the velocity constant at temperature T. The energy of activation for the spalling reaction is 5.9 kcal . mol−1 for PuD2.--. Between 250 and 400°C the product adhered to the parent metal to form a growing layer. The equation R = k/sub T/*AP/.delta. W fits the rate data, where R, A, and P are defined above, .delta. W is the measured weight change in milliequivalents of deuterium, and k/sub T/* is the velocity constant at temperature T.

Author: National Academy of Sciences
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309051452
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 432

View

Book Description
Within the next decade, many thousands of U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons are slated to be retired as a result of nuclear arms reduction treaties and unilateral pledges. Hundreds of tons of plutonium and highly enriched uranium will no longer be needed for weapons purposes and will pose urgent challenges to international security. This is the supporting volume to a study by the Committee on International Security and Arms Control which dealt with all phases of the management and disposition of these materials. This technical study concentrates on the option for the disposition of plutonium, looking in detail at the different types of reactors in which weapons plutonium could be burned and at the vitrification of plutonium, and comparing them using economic, security and environmental criteria.

Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309255716
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 424

View

Book Description
In the late 1980s, the National Cancer Institute initiated an investigation of cancer risks in populations near 52 commercial nuclear power plants and 10 Department of Energy nuclear facilities (including research and nuclear weapons production facilities and one reprocessing plant) in the United States. The results of the NCI investigation were used a primary resource for communicating with the public about the cancer risks near the nuclear facilities. However, this study is now over 20 years old. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission requested that the National Academy of Sciences provide an updated assessment of cancer risks in populations near USNRC-licensed nuclear facilities that utilize or process uranium for the production of electricity. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1 focuses on identifying scientifically sound approaches for carrying out an assessment of cancer risks associated with living near a nuclear facility, judgments about the strengths and weaknesses of various statistical power, ability to assess potential confounding factors, possible biases, and required effort. The results from this Phase 1 study will be used to inform the design of cancer risk assessment, which will be carried out in Phase 2. This report is beneficial for the general public, communities near nuclear facilities, stakeholders, healthcare providers, policy makers, state and local officials, community leaders, and the media.

Author: John Emsley
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 9780198503408
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 556

View

Book Description
A readable, informative, fascinating entry on each one of the 100-odd chemical elements, arranged alphabetically from actinium to zirconium. Each entry comprises an explanation of where the element's name comes from, followed by Body element (the role it plays in living things), Element ofhistory (how and when it was discovered), Economic element (what it is used for), Environmental element (where it occurs, how much), Chemical element (facts, figures and narrative), and Element of surprise (an amazing, little-known fact about it). A wonderful 'dipping into' source for the familyreference shelf and for students.

Author: Keith M. Parsons
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107047323
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 251

View

Book Description
A narrative history of the nuclear tests conducted by the United States in the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1958.

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nuclear energy
Languages : en
Pages : 1082

View

Book Description

Author: Karl Cohen
Publisher:
ISBN: 9784871877060
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 184

View

Book Description
Isotope separation is the process of concentrating specific isotopes of a chemical element by removing other isotopes. The use of the nuclides produced is various. The largest variety is used in research (e.g. in chemistry where atoms of "marker" nuclide are used to figure out reaction mechanisms). By tonnage, separating natural uranium into enriched uranium and depleted uranium is the largest application. In the following text, mainly the uranium enrichment is considered. This process is a crucial one in the manufacture of uranium fuel for nuclear power stations, and is also required for the creation of uranium based nuclear weapons. Plutonium-based weapons use plutonium produced in a nuclear reactor, which must be operated in such a way as to produce plutonium already of suitable isotopic mix or grade. While different chemical elements can be purified through chemical processes, isotopes of the same element have nearly identical chemical properties, which makes this type of separation impractical, except for separation of deuterium. There are three types of isotope separation techniques: Those based directly on the atomic weight of the isotope. Those based on the small differences in chemical reaction rates produced by different atomic weights. Those based on properties not directly connected to atomic weight, such as nuclear resonances. The third type of separation is still experimental; practical separation techniques all depend in some way on the atomic mass. It is therefore generally easier to separate isotopes with a larger relative mass difference. For example deuterium has twice the mass of ordinary (light) hydrogen and it is generally easier to purify it than to separate uranium-235 from the more common uranium-238. On the other extreme, separation of fissile plutonium-239 from the common impurity plutonium-240, while desirable in that it would allow the creation of gun-type nuclear weapons from plutonium, is generally agreed to be impractical.

Author: David Albright
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 544

View

Book Description
Plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU) are the basic materials used in nuclear weapons. Plutonium also plays an important part in the generation of nuclear electricity. Knowing how much plutonium and HEU exists, where and in which form is vital for international security and nuclear commerce. This book is a thorough revision of the World Inventory of Plutonium and highly Enriched Uranium, 1992. It provides a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of the amounts of plutonium and HEU in military and civilian programmes, in nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, and in countries seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. The capibilities that exist for producing these materials around the world are examined in depth, as are the policy issues raised by them. Containing much new information, this book is indispensable to all those concerned with the great contemporary issues in international nuclear relations: arms reductions in the nuclear weapon states, nuclear proliferation, nuclear smuggling, the roles of plutonium and enriched uranium in the nuclear fuel-cycle, and the disposition of surplus weapon material.

Author: Graham T. Allison
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262510882
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 310

View

Book Description
Nuclear materials have never been more plentiful or more accessible to rogue states and terrorists. In this study, the authors analyze the consequences of such nuclear leakage for United States national security and argue that it is possibly the nation's h