The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the chemical resistance of various bearing materials to solutions of nitric acid and uranyl nitrate hexahydrate with views toward selecting the best material to be used as bearings in Purex submerged rotating equipment.

The components for the present aluminum clad, Al-Si bonded, internally and externally cooled (I & E), uranium fuel elements are composed of impact extruded cans and spire caps as shown in Figure 1. This type of component requires two impact extrusions; however, in December, 1957, J. E. Ruffin proposed another design of component in which there was only one impact extrusion. For this component, Figure 2, the spire was impact extruded as a part of the can.