Uranium metallurgy
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[[Image:U,92.jpg|thumb|[[Uranium]]]]In [[materials science]] and [[materials engineering]], '''uranium metallurgy''' is the study of the physical and chemical behavior of [[uranium]] and its [[alloy]]s.
Commercial-grade uranium can be produced through the [[Redox|reduction]] of uranium [[halide]]s with [[alkali]] or [[alkaline earth metal]]s. Uranium metal can also be made through [[electrolysis]] of [[potassium|K]]U[[fluorine|F]]<sub>5</sub> or UF<sub>4</sub>, dissolved in a molten [[Calcium chloride|CaCl<sub>2</sub>]] and [[Sodium chloride|NaCl]]. Very pure uranium can be produced through the [[thermal decomposition]] of uranium halides on a hot filament.
The uranium isotope [[uranium-235|<sup>235</sup>U]] is used as the fuel for [[nuclear reactor]]s and [[nuclear weapon]]s. It is the only isotope existing in nature to any appreciable extent that is fissile, that is, fissionable by thermal neutrons. The isotope [[uranium-238|<sup>238</sup>U]] is also important because it absorbs neutrons to produce a radioactive isotope that subsequently decays to the isotope 239Pu (plutonium), which also is fissile. Uranium in its natural state comprises just 0.71% <sup>235</sup>U and 99.3% <sup>238</sup>U, and the main focus of uranium metallurgy is the [[enriched uranium|enrichment of uranium]] through [[isotope separation]].
==Sources==
*[[Uranium]]
*[[Enriched uranium]]
*[[Nuclear weapon design]]
*The technology of mining and metallurgy [http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu29me/uu29me08.htm], retrieved 7 October 2005.
==See also==
*[[Nuclear weapon design#Enriched materials]]
==External links==
*[http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu29me/uu29me08.htm The technology of mining and metallurgy]
*[http://legacystory.apps.em.doe.gov/text/close/close2.htm Building nuclear warheads: The process]
*[http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/guide/ucompound/propertiesu/table1.cfm List of Uranium Alloys]
[[Category:Uranium]]