Interfacial energies between uraniumdioxide and liquid metals

Interfaciai energies between solid uranium dioxide and liquid metals have been investigated for a number of systems. It was found, that at the metal melting point (1) the interfacial energies become approximately identical for all metals (γUO₂-liquid metals ≈ 1.676 ± 0.142 J/m²) with respect to an engineering approach, and (2) the respective contact angles (φ_s > 90°) point out no wettability. Linear temperature functions of interfacial energies in UO₂ -liquid metal systems have been derived. By appropriate extrapolation procedures it is possible to estimate temperature coefficients of interfacial energies for not yet measured solid UO₂ -liquid metal systems.