Abstract: A process for the combustion of ground, spent potlinings generated during the production of metallic aluminum is disclosed. The process includes: grinding the potlinings to a particle size of not greater than about 2 inches in any dimension; mixing with the ground potlinings from about 1 to about 20 weight percent, based upon the weight of the potlinings, of a powdered inert additive having a median particle size of not greater than 10 micrometers, and burning the ground potlinings in a combustor at a temperature in the range of from 1400.degree. F. to about 2200.degree. F., the additive coating the ground potlinings and preventing their agglomeration in the combustion zone therein.

Abstract: To provide a lithium-containing neutron target particle for breeding tritium within the core of a nuclear reactor, including a central core formed of a stable lithium-containing compound, a surrounding buffer layer, and an outer tritium-impermeable silicon carbide coating, the core is initially sealed with an inner sealing layer of pyrolytic carbon and an outer sealing layer of stoichiometric zirconium carbide. The pyrocarbon seal protects the lithium within the core from attack from the zirconium carbide coating atmosphere, and the zirconium carbide layer prevents loss of lithium from the core when the silicon carbide coating is deposited at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A massive article is coated by chemical vapor deposition in a chamber having a horizontal cross-sectional configuration generally matched to the horizontal cross-sectional configuration of the article. For an article which is relatively thin between a pair of opposed faces so that the article is subject to breakage by the force of surging particles of a fluidized particle bed, breakage is reduced in a coating chamber having vertical sidewalls that generally parallel the faces of the article and relatively narrow endwalls. The article is centered in the chamber with its faces parallel to the sidewalls leaving a region between the faces that accommodates an adequate flow of carrier gas and coating vapor without requiring a large charge of particles that would create undue surging force against the article.

Abstract: Coated nuclear fuel particles are made by first pyrolytically depositing low density carbon onto fuel cores and thereafter depositing a fission-product retentive, higher density exterior coating. In the improvement, cores of uranium, thorium or plutonium oxides are coated by co-depositing silicon carbide or zirconium carbide along with the low density pyrocarbon to create a uniform dispersion. Silicon or zirconium is deposited in an amount equal to at least about one atom for each fission anticipated during the fuel lifetime.