The solubility of iron in solid uranium between 0.003 wt % and 0.3 wt % iron

Abstract

The solubility of iron in solid uranium has been redetermined up to a concentration of 0.3 wt % iron by metallographic methods. The eutectoid temperatures were found by a new application of quantitative metallography. At 660° C α-uranium can dissolve 0.003 wt % Fe (0.013 at %) and the eutectoid point for the β phase is at 661° C and 0.027 wt % (0.12 at %). Maximum solubility in the β phase is 0.085 wt % (0.37 at %) at 763° C and the γ eutectoid point is at 0.15 wt % (0.65 at %). At 780° C the solubility in the γ phase is 0.223 wt % (0.97 at %) and at 800° C is 0.305 wt % (1.33 at %).