Dissolution of uranium metal into molten MgCl2-LiCl-KCl

A study has been made on the kinetics of the dissolutions of uranium metal into molten MgCl2-LiCl-KCl with 10, 20, 30, and 40 mol% MgCl2 over the temperature range from 4000 to 5000C. The dissolution rate has been determined from the weight losses of uranium metal. The diffusion process was expressed by a first order kinetic equation. The diffusion coefficients of U(III) and U(IV) in molten MgCl2-LiCl-KCl have been determined by chronopotentiometry over the temperature range from 4000 to 5000C. The dissolution rates and the diffusion coefficients were compared in their values and in their temperature dependences. The dissolution process is explained to be controlled by the diffusion of U(III). (auth.)