[7][2] The process is reminiscent of hydrogen embrittlement but uranium hydride is not an interstitial compound.

Each hydrogen atom occupies a large tetrahedral hole in the lattice.

[11] Hydride-contaminated uranium can be passivated by exposure to a gaseous mixture of 98% helium with 2% oxygen.

Depending on the size and distribution on the hydride particles, self-ignition can occur after an indeterminate length of exposure to air.

[14] Such exposure poses risk of self-ignition of fuel debris in radioactive waste storage vaults.

[17] Hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium can be purified by reacting with uranium, then thermally decomposing the resulting hydride/deuteride/tritide.

[18] Extremely pure hydrogen has been prepared from beds of uranium hydride for decades.

[19] Heating uranium hydride is a convenient way to introduce hydrogen into a vacuum system.

[23] Polystyrene-impregnated uranium hydride powder is non-pyrophoric and can be pressed, however its hydrogen-carbon ratio is unfavorable.

Once the nuclear reaction has started, it will continue until it reaches a certain temperature, approximately 800 °C (1,500 °F), where, due to the chemical properties of uranium hydride, it chemically decomposes and turns into hydrogen gas and uranium metal.

The loss of neutron moderation due to the chemical decomposition of the uranium hydride will consequently slow — and eventually halt — the reaction.