Abstract:
THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A POROUS REFRACTORY MATERIAL WHICH COMPRISES URANIUM OXIDE AND AN OXIDE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE OXIDES OF THORIUM, PLUTOMIUM, BERYLLIUM, SILICON, ALUMINUM AND MAGNESIUM, WHICH PROCESS COMPRISES HEATING THE REFACTORY MATERIAL IN AN INERT OR OXIDIZING ATMSOPHERE, REPLACING THE INERT OR OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE BY A REDUCING ATMOSPHERE, FURTHER INCREASING THE EMPERATURE OF THE HEATED REFRACTORY MATERIAL TO PRODUCE A MATERIAL HAVING POROSITY OF FROM 2% TO 30%.