Direct preparation of U-7Nb alloy from (U,Nb) mixed oxides

γ-stabilized uranium alloy is an attractive fuel candidate for fast breeder reactors owing to its good irradiation and corrosion resistance properties. Transition group elements viz., Zr, Nb, Ti and Mo are identified as the alloying constituents to stabilize U in bcc phase. U-Nb alloy has many valuable features such as increase in solidus temperature, better thermal conductivity, stabilization of bcc gamma phase at lower temperature, etc. In this regard, U-Nb based alloys have gained importance in the metallic fuel programme. Uranium rich U-Nb alloys are also considered as shape memory alloys as some of the phases exhibit shape memory effect. An attempt has been made in this study to prepare U-7wt%Nb directly from (U,Nb) mixed oxides by molten salt based direct oxide electrochemical reduction (DOER) method. In recent past, DOER method has been applied for the preparation of numerous metals and alloys including metallic uranium. Electrolithiothermic reduction technique was adopted for the preparation of U-Nb alloy