Use of Tribocor 532N for a carbon-free induction furnace for vacuum-induction melting and casting of uranium and its alloys

Carbon contamination results from the use of graphite components in the vacuum-induction melting (VIM) operation. Thus, the most obvious method of eliminating C/carbide contamination in uranium systems is to replace the graphite components with C free components, in this study, Tribocor 532N. Tribocor 532N was found to yield projected lifetimes of more than an order of magnitude over graphite, making Tribocor an excellent crucible/susceptor that exhibits high levels of stability with U and its alloys. Because the material is C free, the melting and casting of U and its alloys, with minimal C contamination, is possible. 17 ref.--A.R.