Fractional Distillation Characteristics of Duralumin

Abstract

For the separation of radionuclide from the radioactive metallic waste generated by the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, a new method combined with the distillation and laser separation is being developed. The characteristics of fractional distillation for duralumin (Aluminum alloy 7075: Al-5.6Zn-2.5Mg-1.6Cu-0.25Cr) are studied experimentally and theoretically for the first step. In the experiment, the duralumin (378.7 mg) is heated to 1773 K with the rate of 200 K/h and vaporized. The ion current of its components within the vapor is measured using quadrupole mass spectrometer. In the simulation, the vaporization rate of the components from the melt is calculated by using the Langmuir's equation and the Henry's law. The results of the simulation agree well with the experimental ones, and it is indicated that Al, Mg and Zn could be fractionated from duralumin.