How is uranium used in bombs?

Answer 1

The following is typical, but there are a number of variations, mostly minor:

Uranium is first found by exploration. It is then mined. The ore is milled to produce small pieces, which are then chemically leached to produce an uranate called yellocake. The yellowcake is reacted to produce uranium hexafluoride , which is then run through centrifuges to separate a heavier fraction from a lighter fraction. The lighter fraction is the enriched material used for power plants, the heavier is referred to as depleted. The enriched uranium is chemically converted to another oxide, uranium dioxide, and this is converted into the form of fuel used in plants, commonly by pressing and sintering. The fuel is encased in cladding of special steels or zircaloy, and then is ready to be put into the reactor.

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Answer 2

Uranium was used in bombs as explosive. The nuclear fission of uranium-235 (or other isotopes) release a huge amount of energy.
Now atomic bombs with uranium are rare; they are replaced by plutonium bombs or thermonuclear bombs (fusion bombs).

Answer 3

* Reduction of uranium halides (UCl4, UF4) with Ca, Mg, etc.

* Electrolysis of UF4 or KU5

* Thermal decomposition of uranium halides on hot filaments

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Answer 4

Two sections of uranium are kept apart in the bomb casing, each smaller than the "critical mass". To detonate, one piece, shaped like a cannon ball, is fired down a tube into the other piece of uranium. The rapid assembly of a critical mass results in a nuclear explosion.

Answer 5

Uranium is not man made, it is a natural chemical element extracted from uranium minerals.

Answer 6

- as uranium sintered dioxide pellets

- as uranium carbide

- as mixed oxides (MOX = uranium and plutonium dioxide)

- as uranium-zirconium-erbium hydrides

etc.

Answer 7

The externall shells or the penetrators are frequently made in USA and Israel from depleted uranium metal because uranium has a great density (19,1 g/cm3) so a great kinetic energy.

Answer 8

It is possible but depleted uranium is used for bigger penetrators.