Uranium hexafluoride is one of the few compounds of
uranium that can be obtained as a gas at moderate
temperatures. It can conveniently be used as a gas for
processing, as a liquid for filling or emptying containers
or equipment, and as a solid for storage, all at
temperatures and pressures commonly used in
industrial processes.In the first step of UF6 production,
uranium ore is mined and sent to
a mill where uranium oxide (often
called "yellowcake") is produced.
The uranium oxide is then sent to
a UF6 production facility.
At the production facility, the
uranium oxide is combined with
anhydrous HF and fluorine gas in
a series of chemical reactions to
form the chemical compound UF