An Experimental Investigation of the U-Mo-C Ternary Diagram

Abstract

The isothermal sections of the U-Mo-C ternary system have been established at 1000°C and 1400°C, using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis for the quantification of U and Mo and differential thermal analysis. The main differences between the two sections are the appearance of liquid phase at about 1230°C, due to the peritectic decomposition of γ-UMo, and the peritectoid decompositions of MoC and β’’ Mo2C. No other transformation was detected in this temperature range, especially one involving the two only ternary phases found, UMoC2and U2Mo2C3.