Method for chemically stabilizing uranium carbide compounds, and device implementing the method

A process for the chemical stabilization of a uranium carbide composite material corresponding to:

• UCx+yC with x≧1 and y>0, placed in a stabilization chamber, comprising the following stages:
• a stage of rise in temperature of the internal temperature of said chamber to a temperature of between approximately 380° C. and 550° C., said chamber being fed with an inert gas consisting of one or both of argon and nitrogen;
• a stage of isothermal oxidative treatment at said temperature of between approximately 380° C. and 550° C., said chamber being placed under O2 partial pressure;
• and
• a stage of controlling the completion of the stabilization of said composite material which comprises monitoring of the amount of molecular oxygen consumed and/or of carbon dioxide given off or of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide given off, until at least the achievement of a value of an input set point for the molecular oxygen, of a minimum threshold value for said amount of carbon dioxide or of threshold values for the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.