Rubidium uranium fluoride-based crystals and methods of fabrication
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsJames M Mann, Eric Hunt
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Abstract
A method of synthesizing rubidium uranium fluoride crystals. The method includes combining uranium-based feedstock with a mineralizer solution that includes a rubidium fluoride. The feedstock and mineralizer solution are pressurized and a thermal gradient applied thereto such that a first portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution is heated to a temperature that is greater than a temperature of a second portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution. Uranium nutrient enters the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion and uranium nutrient precipitates to spontaneously form crystals in the second portion.
Claims11
A method of synthesizing rubidium uranium fluoride crystals, the method comprising:
- combining a uranium-based feedstock with a mineralizer solution comprising a rubidium fluoride;
- pressurizing the feedstock and the mineralizer solution;
- and
- applying a thermal gradient to the pressurized feedstock and the mineralizer solution such that a first portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution is heated to a temperature that is greater than a temperature of a second portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution,
- wherein uranium nutrient enters the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion and uranium nutrient precipitates to spontaneously form crystals in the second portion.
A method of synthesizing rubidium uranium fluoride crystals, the method comprising:
- combining a uranium-based feedstock with a mineralizer solution comprising a rubidium fluoride;
- placing the feedstock with the mineralizer solution in an ampoule;
- pressurizing the feedstock and the mineralizer solution in the ampoule;
- and
- applying a thermal gradient to the pressurized feedstock and the mineralizer solution such that a first portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution is heated to a temperature that is greater than a temperature of a second portion of the feedstock and the mineralizer solution,
- wherein uranium nutrient enters the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion and uranium nutrient precipitates to spontaneously form crystals in the second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.