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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
"Do you need that high qulaity for anything other than centrigfuges?"
I am no expert. But surely one would not want rocket tubes to weaken due to corrosion any more then one would want corrosion to occure in parts for gas centrifuges.
Plus in the case of using them for rockets. One would not want an outer surface pitted and coated with any corrosion from effecting the inner surface of the rocket launching tubes.
I could see in either case the need for tubes with a very clean surface. I believe, but am not 100% certain, UF (uranium hexa fluoride) may be corrosive. If so, it would be quite important to protecting the underlining aluminum which may be quite subject to corrosion from this gas. Quite frankly. I am not sure just what part of a gas centrifuge the tubes would be used in. I think the where not intended to acutally pass the gas, but in part of the balancing system. If so, then they may not be required to be ionadized.
Just a very un-educated thought. For "interpiping", I would assume they would use some grade of stainless steel.
Perhaps someone will step in with a better explaination.
85 posted on 04/24/2006 12:24:05 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Honor must be earned)
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To: Marine_Uncle
Plus in the case of using them for rockets.

What is the melting point for aluminum, I think it is much lower than steel....?

From :

Thermal Properties and temperatures

********************************

Aluminium 13 Al

Melting point [/K]: 933.47 [or 660.32 °C (1220.58 °F)]

87 posted on 04/24/2006 12:34:54 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: Marine_Uncle
From NSG Guidelines (PDF): 5.1. Gas centrifuges and assemblies and components especially designed or prepared for use in gas centrifuges

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

The gas centrifuge normally consists of a thin-walled cylinder(s) of between 75 mm (3 in) and 400 mm (16 in) diameter contained in a vacuum environment and spun at high peripheral speed of the order of 300 m/s or more with its central axis vertical. In order to achieve high speed the materials of construction for the rotating components have to be of a high strength to density ratio and the rotor assembly, and hence its individual components, have to be manufactured to very close tolerances in order to minimize the unbalance. In contrast to other centrifuges, the gas centrifuge for uranium enrichment is characterized by having within the rotor chamber a rotating disc-shaped baffle(s) and a stationary tube arrangement for feeding and extracting the UF6 gas and featuring at least 3 separate channels, of which 2 are connected to scoops extending from the rotor axis towards the periphery of the rotor chamber. Also contained within the vacuum environment are a number of critical items which do not rotate and which although they are especially designed are not difficult to fabricate nor are they fabricated out of unique materials. A centrifuge facility however requires a large number of these components, so that quantities can provide an important indication of end use.

88 posted on 04/24/2006 12:37:16 PM PDT by blaster88
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