Changes in mean expansion coefficients upon annealing uranium sheet that had been rolled to 80% reduction in thickness at room temperature indicated that three different preferred oriontations could be developed upon recrystallization. One preferred orientation, which is essentially the same as that of the as-rolled material, resulted from annealing for long times at 360 deg C or at a lower tempcrature; a second type was created by annealing for moderate times between 400 and 600 deg C; and the third accompanied grain coarsening at 650 deg C. The microstructures of the as-rolled and annealed specimens were extremely heterogeneous because of the large grain size present prior to final fabrication at room temperature. The as-rolled structures consisted of heavily deformed areas and smaller quantities of lightly deformed material. The annealing of the former was characterized by initial creation of very fine recrystallized grains which were absorbed later by discontinuous growth of larger grains. Lightiy deformed areas, upon annealing, first exhibited recovery by polygonization and then underwent normal recrystallization. (auth)