AVS 50th International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Wednesday Sessions
       Session AS-WeA

Paper AS-WeA7
Formation of Protective Coatings on Depleted Uranium - 0.75 wt% Titanium Alloy

Wednesday, November 5, 2003, 4:00 pm, Room 324/325

Session: Fuel Cell & Battery Materials/Corrosion
Presenter: D.F. Roeper, SUNY at Stonybrook
Authors: D.F. Roeper, SUNY at Stonybrook
C.R. Clayton, SUNY at Stonybrook
D. Chidambaram, SUNY at Stonybrook
G.P. Halada, SUNY at Stonybrook
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The process of enriching uranium for nuclear power plants results in the formation of a toxic and mildly radioactive waste. Exposure to this byproduct called depleted uranium (DU) may have deleterious health effects.@footnote 1@ The leaching of uranium into the environment and its prevention have become issues of concern. Protective coatings could prevent leaching of DU as well as prevent localized corrosion. In this study, we explore the formation of silicate-based coatings on DU-0.75 wt% Ti alloy (0.75 wt% Ti, less than 0.2 wt% @super 235@U and ~0.0008 wt% @super 234@U, rest being @super 238@U with some trace impurities); a common DU alloy. These coatings are compared with a molybdate-based coating that has been demonstrated earlier.@footnote 2@ The optimal concentrations of the inhibitors and activators have been used, as determined from the earlier study. The morphological information has been obtained using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. While open circuit potential measurements and potentiodynamic polarization have been utilized for characterization of the electrochemical behavior, the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has provided the chemical information regarding the coatings. Our results indicate the primary constituent of the coating to be an oxide complex. We discuss the approach currently undertaken to develop protective complex coatings on the alloy surface. The characteristics of these coatings have been compared with other coatings similarly formed using different inhibitors and accelerators. @FootnoteText@ Acknowledgement: The U.S. Army Research Laboratory under contract DAAD190110799 supported this work. Dr. Derek J. Demaree, PhD., has served as contract officer.@footnote 1@ S. Jones, I. lowles and A. Smith, Lancet, 357 1532 (2001).@footnote 2@ C.R. Clayton, D.F. Roeper, D. Chidambaram and G.P. Halada, 203@super rd@ Meeting of the Electro Chemical Society, Abstract No. 318, April 30, 2003 Paris, France.