The development of emitter materials for use in the noble gas plasma diode

The operating characteristics of the noble gas plasma diode thermionic converter require that the emitter contain a high surface concentration of enriched uranium. The emitter materials have been limited to uranium carbide of both ceramic and cermet systems. The ceramic materials investigated were p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced energy conversion 1963, Vol.3 (1), p.113-121
Main Authors: Hill, R.F., Keller, D.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The operating characteristics of the noble gas plasma diode thermionic converter require that the emitter contain a high surface concentration of enriched uranium. The emitter materials have been limited to uranium carbide of both ceramic and cermet systems. The ceramic materials investigated were pure UC and the mixed carbide UC-ZrC. The cermet materials investigated were UC-Nb, UC-Mo, UC-W and UC-Re. The chemical reactivity between the uranium carbide and the metal in the four-cermet systems varied quite markedly; the UC-Re system appearing to be the most stable one at 2000°K. A reference emitter material composed of 80 v/o UC-20 v/o Re was selected. The emitter discs were fabricated by the gas pressure bonding process. This process can be utilized to densify the core and simultaneously clad and bond the core into an integral assembly in a one-step operation. Results of the fabrication studies as well as some thermodynamic considerations for the cermet systems are presented.
ISSN:0365-1789
DOI:10.1016/0365-1789(63)90081-X