Morphologic and chemical characterization of products from hydrolysis of UF6

•UF6 hydrolysis was carried out under water deficient reaction conditions.•SEM Images showed substrate dependent morphologies.•Hydrolysis products on aluminum change after one week at high humidity.•Chemical characterization revealed formation of UOF4 in stored materials.

Characterization of the chemical speciation and morphologies of products formed from hydrolysis of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) is important for predicting dispersion and contamination of released material, or health consequences from inhalation of air-borne particles. We report products of hydrolysis of UF6 in which the quantity of water was insufficient for complete formation of UO2F2. Material was deposited onto carbon tape and aluminum. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to characterize textures and particle sizes, and powder X-ray diffraction analysis and μ-Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize chemical speciation. These results revealed that the ratio of H2O to UF6, depository substrate composition, and storage conditions must be considered when evaluating chemical speciation, morphologic texture and particles size of UF6 hydrolysis products. LA-UR-15-23846.

Graphical abstractProducts of water-deficient hydrolysis of uranium hexafluoride deposited onto carbon tape and aluminum, and temporal changes in morphologic textures and chemical speciation of the products are reported.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide