Fluorination of Uranium Dioxide by Bromine-Fluorine System

The addition of bromine to fluorine flow makes it possible to fluorinate UO2 into UF6even below 200°C, at which temperature fluorination does not proceed with fluorine alone. Presence of bromine corresponding to about 6% of the fluorine concentration is sufficient to induce the fluorination. This effect of bromine is much greater than would be expected from the presence of bromine fluorides in concentrations such as would be produced by direct combination of the fluorine with the added bromine. It appears that the fluorination is enhanced when the mixed gas is held for 3~20 sec before arriving at the sample. The main component of the reactant gas is BrF3.