Single phase organic-inorganic sol-gel
AssigneesBWXT NOG Technologies, Inc., Clemson University Research Foundation
InventorsKeith B. RIDER, Kevin HOUR, Fei PENG
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Abstract
A single phase, organic-inorganic sol-gel with controlled rheology that can be solidified readily and converted into a ceramic material is provided. The organic-inorganic sol-gel may be uranium-based or cerium-based. Highly spherical ceramic microspheres such as uranium or cerium gel microspheres are fabricated and are able to be converted to homogeneous ceramics after thermal decomposition at high temperatures. Pure phase UC2 can be obtained upon carbothermal reaction. Pure phase U2N3 can also be obtained after converting UC2 to U2N3.
Claims12
A method of making a sol-gel, the method comprising:
- combining a metal ion with a chelating agent and a solvent to form a sol mixture, wherein the metal ion is of a metal selected from the group consisting of cerium, uranium, plutonium, zirconium, yttrium, gadolinium, niobium, and a combination thereof.
- and
- processing the sol mixture to form a single phase, organic-inorganic sol-gel.
A pre-polymer material comprising:
- a metal ion selected from the group consisting of cerium, uranium, plutonium, zirconium, yttrium, gadolinium, niobium, and a combination thereof,
- wherein the pre-polymer material is homogeneous and formable into a solidified form.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.