We are pleased to highlight our latest research activities at Starmet Corporation. If you require additional information on our research, please contact our Research & Development Division. We would be more than happy to answer any questions or send you details.

Beryllium Aluminum Alloy Development for Investment Casting

By
Nancy F. Levoy
Brian J. Smith

ABSTRACT
Be-Al alloys are unique, light weight, composite alloys that combine high specific stiffness and substantial strength with good ductility and toughness. This combination of properties makes these alloys attractive for many high performance aerospace applications. Due to the inherent problems associated with casting Be-Al alloys, processing of these alloys has previously been restricted to rolling or extrusion of pre-alloyed powder compacts. Beralcast® 363 is a new cast in situ composite alloy containing 65 weight % Be that is formed by the controlled solidification processing of a higher-order Be-Al alloy. This paper will desribe the development of the Beralcast® family of alloys specifically for production of near net shape components via investment casting.

Reference: Synthesis/Processing of Lightweight Metallic Materials II

Edited by C. M. Ward-Close, F.H. Froes, D.J. Chellman and
S.S. Cho The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, 1997 Pages 363-374

Recovery of High Value Fluorine Products From Uranium Hexafluoride

By
John B. Bulko, Ph.D.
William T. Nachtrab, Ph.D.
David S. Schlier

ABSTRACT
Starmet has developed an integrated process for converting UF6 into uranium oxide while recovering the fluorine value as useful products free of uranium contamination. The conversion process can be divided into two main operations, UF6 conversion to UF4 (6-to-4) and subsequent processing of UF4 to U oxides with generation of volatile fluoride by-products. Uranium tetrafluoride by-product from the 6-to-4 process is reacted with SiO2 at 700° C to produce volatile SiF4 and coincident uranium oxide. Alternatively, boric oxide (B2O3 ) has been used in place of silicon dioxide to produce boron trifluoride, BF3 . Both fluoride gases possess significantly higher value in comparison to HF which is the typical fluoride product recovered from Hydrolysis and pyrohydrolysis processing of UF6 . Of greater significance is the generation of products free from U contamination which has historically plagued other fluoride-based products derived from UF6 thereby discouraging widespread commercial use and diminishing value.

Reference:
To be published by the American Nuclear Society (ANS) as a supplement to conference proceedings from Spectrum '98 : International Conference on Decommissioning and Decontamination and on Nuclear and hazardous Waste Management held September 13-18, 1998 Denver, Colorado