Every tonne of natural uranium produced and enriched for use in a nuclear reactor gives about 130 kg of enriched fuel (3.5% or more U-235). The balance is depleted uranium (U-238, with 0.25-0.30% U-235). This major portion has been depleted in its fissile U-235 isotope by the enrichment process. It is commonly known as DU.
DU is stored either as UF6 or it is de-converted back to U3O8, which is more benign chemically and thus more suited for long-term storage. It is also less toxic. Every year over 50,000 tonnes of depleted uranium joins already substantial stockpiles in USA, Europe and Russia. World stock is about 1.2 million tonnes.
Some DU is drawn from these stockpiles to dilute high-enriched (>90%) uranium released from weapons programs, particularly in Russia, and destined for use in civil reactors. This weapons-grade material is diluted about 25:1 with depleted uranium, or 29:1 with depleted uranium that has been enriched slightly (to 1.5% U-235) to minimise levels of (natural) U-234 in the product.
Other uses are more mundane, and depend on the metal's very high density (1.7 times that of lead). Hence, where maximum mass must fit in minimum space, such as aircraft control surface and helicopter counterweights, yacht keels, etc, it is often well suited. Until the mid 1970s it was used in dental porcelains. In addition it is used for radiation shielding, being some five times more effective than lead in this role.
Also because of its density, it is used as solid slugs or penetrators in armour-piercing projectiles, alloyed with abut 0.75% titanium. DU is pyrophoric, so that upon impact about 30% of the projectile atomises and burns to uranium oxide dust. It was widely used in the Kuwait war (300 tonnes) and less so in Kosovo (11 tonnes).
Uranium metal is very dense and heavy. When it is depleted (DU), uranium is used by the military as shielding to protect Army tanks, and also in parts of bullets and missiles. The military also uses enriched uranium to power nuclear propelled Navy ships and submarines, and in nuclear weapons. Fuel used for Naval reactors is typically highly enriched in U-235 (the exact values are classified information). In nuclear weapons uranium is also highly enriched, usually over 90% (again, the exact values are classified information).
The main use of uranium in the civilian sector is to fuel commercial nuclear power plants, where fuel is typically enriched in U-235 to 2-3%. Depleted uranium is used in helicopters and airplanes as counter weights on certain wing parts. Other uses include ceramic glazes where small amounts of natural uranium (that is, not having gone through the enrichment process) may be added for color. Some lighting fixtures utilize uranium, as do some photographic chemicals. Phosphate fertilizers often contain high amounts of natural uranium, because the mineral material from which they are made is typically high in uranium. Also, people who collect rocks and minerals may have specimens of uranium minerals in their collection such as pitchblende, uraninite, autunite, uranophane, or coffinite.
Any retractions coming?
Wrong-O.
Depleted uranium is uranium that's been depleted of its radioactive properties, thus the name depleted uranium.
Depleted uranium possesses physical properties that make it useful in kinetic energy weapons (I.E. BULLETS) for anti-armor weapons.
H-bombs? Bullhsit.