Study of decomposition and reactions with aluminum matrix of dispersed atomized U-10 wt% Mo alloy

A neutron diffraction study of atomized U-10 wt% Mo alloy showed that homogenizing annealing above 560 °C retards the decomposition of the metastable γ-phase at 400 and 500 °C. In fuel with U-10 wt% Mo alloy particles dispersed in the Al matrix, Al diffuses along the grain boundaries and reacts with α-U phase formed from the decomposed γ-phase at 400 and 500 °C. The formation of Al3U and Al2U phases was observed. Neutron diffraction did not detect formation of a ternary Al–U–Mo compound.