Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xm8r8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-03T15:09:36.612Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Synthesis and Study of 239Pu-Doped Ceramics Based on Zircon, (Zr,Pu)Sio4, and Hafnon, (Hf,Pu)SiO4

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

B.E. Burakov
Affiliation:
V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2-nd Murinskiy ave., St.Petersburg, 194021, Russia Email: burakov@riand.spb.su
E.B. Anderson
Affiliation:
V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2-nd Murinskiy ave., St.Petersburg, 194021, Russia
M.V. Zamoryanskay
Affiliation:
V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2-nd Murinskiy ave., St.Petersburg, 194021, Russia
M.A. Yagovkina
Affiliation:
V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2-nd Murinskiy ave., St.Petersburg, 194021, Russia
E.E. Strykanova
Affiliation:
V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2-nd Murinskiy ave., St.Petersburg, 194021, Russia
E.V. Nikolaeva
Affiliation:
V.G.Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2-nd Murinskiy ave., St.Petersburg, 194021, Russia
Get access

Abstract

Zircon, ZrSiO4, as well as its Hf-analogue hafnon, HfSiO4, have been proposed for use as durable Pu host phases for the immobilization of weapons grade Pu and other actinides. Four samples of Pu-doped ceramics based on the zircon and hafnon structures were synthesized through sintering in air using precursors containing 5-6 and 10 wt% 239Pu. Synthesized ceramic samples were studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microprobe method, MCC-1 leach test at 25 and 90°C. Inclusions of separated a PuO2phase in the matrix of zircon-based ceramic and presumably, (Pu,Hf)O2 phase in the hafnon-based ceramic were observed for samples obtained from precursors doped with 10 wt% Pu. No separated Pu-phases in significant amounts were identified in the matrices of both ceramics obtained from the precursors doped with 5-6 wt% Pu. It was found that normalized Pu mass losses (without correction on ceramic porosity) for samples doped with 10 wt% Pu which contain separated inclusions of PuO2 or (Pu,Hf)O2 after 14/28 days were approximately (in g/m2) - for zircon: 0.2/0.2 - at 90°C and 0.03/0.04 - at 25°C and for hafnon: 0.02/0.04 - at 90°C and 0.01/0.01 - at 25°C. The losses of Pu from samples doped with 5-6 wt% are 1-2 order of magnitude less. It was suggested that optimal amount of Pu which could be incorporated by zircon and hafnon lattices does not exceed 7 wt%. An important additional conclusion is that Pu- doped ceramic based on zircon or hafnon can be successfully fabricated excluding hot pressing method.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Burakov, B.E. (1993) Proceedings of International Conference SAFE WASTE'93, June 13-18/1993, Avignon, France, 2, 1928.Google Scholar
2. Anderson, E.B, Burakov, E.B, Vasiliev, V.G. (1993) Proceedings of International Conference SAFE WASTE'93, June 13-18 Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. /1993, Avignon, France, 2, 2933.Google Scholar
3. Ewing, R.C, Lutze, W, Weber, W.J (1995) J. Mater. Research, 10, 243246.Google Scholar
4. Ewing, R.C, Weber, W.J, Lutze, W. (1996) in Disposal of Weapon Plutonium eds. Merz, E.R. and Walter, C.E., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 6583.Google Scholar
5. Burakov, B.E, Anderson, E.B, Galkin, B.Ya, Starchenko, V.A, Vasiliev, V.G. (1996) in Disposal of Weapon Plutonium eds. Merz, E.R. and Walter, C.E., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 8589.Google Scholar
6. Burakov, B.E, Anderson, E.B, Rovsha, S.I, Ushakov, S.V, Ewing, R.C, Lutze, W, Weber, W.J.(1996) Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XIX, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 412, 3339.Google Scholar
7. Ushakov, S.V, Burakov, B.E, Garbuzov, V.M, Anderson, E.B, Strykanova, E.E, Yagovkina, M.M, Helean, K.B, Guo, Y.X, Ewing, R.C, Lutze, W.(1998) Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXI, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 506, 281288.Google Scholar
8. Exarhos, G.J. (1984) in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B1, North-Holland, Amsterdam, 538541.Google Scholar
9. Weber, W.J. (1991) Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids, 115, 341349.Google Scholar
10. Burakov, B.E, Anderson, E.B. (1998) Proceedings of the 2nd NUCEF International Symposium NUCEF'98, 16-17/11/1998, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan, 1, 295306.Google Scholar
11. Burakov, B.E, Anderson, E.B. (2000) in Excess Weapons Plutonium Immobilization in Russia eds. Jardine, L.J., Borisov, G.B., UCRL-ID-138361, Proceedings of the Meeting for Coordination and Review of Work, Held in St. Petersburg, Russia, November 1-4/1999, 167179.Google Scholar