High-Temperature Interaction of Triuranium Disilicide with Ceramics and Refractory Materials

The high-temperature interaction of triuranium disilicide U3Si2 with BeO, Y2O3, Al2O3, ZrO2, Mo, and Ta has been considered. The formation of eutectics in these systems has been analyzed theoretically, and experiments on heating samples of triuranium disilicide located on substrates of appropriate materials in vacuum to a temperature of 1500°С have been carried out. The result shows the absence of interaction between U3Si2 with BeO, Y2O3, ZrO2, and Mo. The formation of eutectic in the U3Si2–Al2O3 system has been experimentally confirmed. In addition, the strong interaction of U3Si2 with Ta with the formation of diffusion layers has been revealed. The possibility of using the materials under study in contact with triuranium disilicide at high temperatures is concluded.