HEAT CAPACITY STUDIES OF URANIUM AND URANIUM-FISSIUM ALLOYS

The heat contents of high-purity uranium and uranium-fissium alloys containing 3, 5, and 8 wt.% fissium were measured at temperatures from 0 deg C through their fusion temperatures. The total heat content above 0 deg C was determined by drop calorimetry and quantitative differential thermal analysis. The total heat content from 0 to 1200 deg C was found to be 16.1 plus or minus 0.3, 16.3 plus or minus 0.6, 16.3 plus or minus 0.6, and 16.4 plus or minus 0.4 kcal per equivalent gram atom, for the 0, 3, 5, and 8 wt.% fissium alloys, respectively. Curves of the heat content versus temperature are plotted for all the alloys and the high-purity uranium. Heats of transition and of fusion were determined. The directly measured value of 2.9 plus or minus 0.1 kcal/g-atom for the heat of fusion of uranium is consistent with that of the alloys. (auth