Investigation of fluorination by atomic fluorine

Abstract

The process of fluorination of uranium tetrafluoride by atomic fluorine has been investigated on a closed circulation facility. The concentration of atomic fluorine in the flux was estimated using thermocouples. The ratio of fluorination at different distances from the atomic fluorine source was determined. Fluorination of platinum tetrafluoride by atomic fluorine has also been studied. The kinetic equation of the dependence of the degree of plutonium tetrafluoride transformation into hexafluoride on the time of fluorination by atomic fluorine and on the experimental conditions has been obtained. The reaction of interaction of plutonium tetrafluoride with atomic fluorine is of the first order by gaseous reagent. The reaction rate observed is proportional to the specific surface of the tetrafluoride powder. The activation energy of the atomic fluorine-tetrafluoride interaction is 10–20 kJ/mol.