Abstract
Uranium sesquinitride U2N3, and the mononitride UN, have been prepared and their decomposition temperatures at various atmospheres were investigated. U2N3 was prepared by heating uranium turnings in nitrogen at 800°C. Alternately a finer product was obtained by first converting the uranium turnings to UH3 in hydrogen at 250°C and subsequently heating UH3 in nitrogen to obtain U2N3. UN was prepared by the vacuum decomposition of U2N3 at 1500°C and also by heating U2N3 and uranium powder at 1000°C. The nitrides formed were identified by X-ray. U2N3 was found to decompose at 1365±5°C in 1 atm nitrogen while UN was found to dissociate at 1700°C in vacuum and in argon. Higher nitrides were formed when heated in nitrogen atmosphere. The experimental results were compared with thermodynamical data and were found to be in good agreement.

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