Effect of Trigger Material on the Uranium Metal Produced by Deterministic Triggering of Magnesiothermic Reduction of UF4

There are several well-established methods for the purification and extraction of uranium metal. One is magnesiothermic reduction, which involves converting uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) into uranium metal using magnesium as a reducing agent. This process is conducted in a sealed vessel with external heating, which is continued until the reaction is initiated. The literature shows that the reaction can be externally triggered beyond a specific average charge temperature after pre-heating to achieve the same level of purity and quality. In this study, we analyze the influence of trigger location and trigger material on the purity and consolidation of uranium metal. Specifically, we study the effects of different trigger materials, including graphite, nichrome, Kanthal, and silicon carbide, on ingot formation. The impact of firing location on the final ingot quality is also assessed. Results indicate that top-zone firing led to poor ingot consolidation, whereas initiating the reaction from the middle or bottom zones yielded better ingot quality with higher average weights (≥ 4.65 kg).