Uranium metallurgy 2853242 175423177 2007-12-03T05:43:53Z 166.217.194.216 fix link [[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]]