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Formulation and Processing of Polyphase Ceramics for High Level Nuclear Waste

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Alan B. Harker ,
Peter E. D. Morgan ,
David R. Clarke  and
John F. Flintoff
Alan B. Harker
Affiliation:
Rockwell International Science Center, 1049 Camino Dos Rios, Thousand Oaks, California 91360, USA
Peter E. D. Morgan
Affiliation:
Rockwell International Science Center, 1049 Camino Dos Rios, Thousand Oaks, California 91360, USA
David R. Clarke
Affiliation:
Rockwell International Science Center, 1049 Camino Dos Rios, Thousand Oaks, California 91360, USA
John F. Flintoff
Affiliation:
Rockwell International Science Center, 1049 Camino Dos Rios, Thousand Oaks, California 91360, USA
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Abstract

Two basic crystalline phase assemblages have been developed for incorporating the full range of Savannah River Plant waste compositions into polyphase ceramic forms. Both phase assemblages provide crystalline host phases, with stable mineral analogues, for all radionuclides in the waste. The first, an alumina based assemblage, immobilizes the radioactive elements in solid solutions of magnetoplumbite and uraninite with the bulk non-radioactive waste elements being present in spinel and nepheline. The second assemblage uses the titanate based “zirconolite” type fluorite structure and the alumina/iron based magnetoplumbite phases to host the radioactive nuclei with spinel and nepheline, again providing crystalline hosts for the non-radioactive elements. Both phase assemblages can be consolidated to a fine grain ceramic by hot isostatic pressing at 1040°C pressures from 20,000 to 30,000 psi. Redox control during processing, just sufficient to reduce uranium to the tetravalent state, is used.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 6: Symposium D – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management IV , 1981 , 567
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1982

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References

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