Surface reactivity of uranium hexafluoride (UF 6 )

International audienceThe present article reviews a selection of results obtained in the AREVA/CNRS/UCA joint research laboratory. It focuses on interfaces formed by uranium hexafluoride (UF6) with chemical filter (purification), carbon (UF6 storage), and metallic substrate (corrosion). As a matter of fact, along the nuclear fuel cycle, metallic surfaces of the fluorination reactors, cooling systems (for the liquefaction of UF6), and storage containers are in contact with UF6, either in the gas or in the liquid phase. For the removal of volatile impurities before the enrichment, surface of chemical filters with a high specific surface area must be enhanced for both selectivity and efficiency. To store depleted UF6 (238U), graphite intercalation compounds are proposed and preliminary results are presented