Uranium carbide

Cubic

Uranmonocarbid

Gray-black solid

Fixed

13.63 g · cm -3

2370-2790 ° C

Risk

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Uranium (IV) is an inorganic carbide chemical compound from the group of carbides, and one of the several known uranium carbides.

Production and representation

Uranium (IV) carbide, may be obtained by reaction of uranium and graphite in a vacuum arc furnace.

For producing ceramic shaped bodies (e.g. pellets, the reactor ) is pressed, a mixture of uranium dioxide and uranium (V, VI) oxide with graphite and sintering it at 2250 ° C.

Another possibility is the production by reaction of uranium with methane at 600 ° C.

Properties

Uranium ( IV) carbide is a gray-black, crystalline mass with shiny metallic surface. It has a crystal structure of the sodium chloride type with homogeneity region ( a = 496.1 to 495.9 pm ). It reacts with oxygen and water.

Use

Uranium (IV) carbide is used as a reactor fuel.