Method for preparation of thorium dicarbide and thorium-uranium dicarbide particles

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF PREPARING SPHERICAL THORIUM-URANIUM DICARBIDE PARTICLES WHICH COMPRISES DISPERSING FINELY DIVIDED THORIUM OXIDE IN AN AQUEOUS NITRATE SYSTEM AT A NITRATE-TO-THORIUM MOLAR RATIO OF ABOUT .05 TO .15, PROVIDING DISPERSIBLE URANIUM VALUES IN THE RESULTING MIXTURE AT A URANIUM PROPORTION UP TO 10 ATOM PERCENT OF THE TOTAL METAL THEREIN, ADJUSTING THE PH OF THE RESULTING MIXTURE TO ABOUT 3.5 TO 4.0, DIGESTING THE RESULTING ADJUSTED MIXTURE AT A TEMPERATURE OF 80*C. TO 100*C. UNTIL A SOL IS FORMED, MIXING SAID SOL WITH FINELY DIVIDED CARBON AT A CARBON-TO-THORIUM RATIO OF AT LEAST 4 TO 1, EVAPORATING THE RESULTING MIXTURE WHEREBY A DRIED GEL IS FORMED, COMMINUTING THE RESULTING GEL AND FIRING THE RESULTING PARTICLES AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 1400*C. IN AN INERT ATMOSPHERE.