37 results about "Gaseous diffusion" patented technology

Gaseous diffusion is a technology used to produce enriched uranium by forcing gaseous uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) through semipermeable membranes. This produces a slight separation between the molecules containing uranium-235 (²³⁵U) and uranium-238 (²³⁸U). By use of a large cascade of many stages, high separations can be achieved. It was the first process to be developed that was capable of producing enriched uranium in industrially useful quantities.