Morphology of U₃O₈ materials following storage under controlled conditions of temperature and relative humidity

Journal Article · Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4923-1· OSTI ID:1304719

Tamasi, Alison L. ^[1]; Cash, Leigh J. ^[2]; Mullen, William Tyler ^[2]; Pugmire, Alison L. ^[2]; Ross, Amy R. ^[2]; Ruggiero, Christy E. ^[2]; Scott, Brian L. ^[2]; Wagner, Gregory L. ^[2]; Walensky, Justin R. ^[3]; Wilkerson, Marianne P.  ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
3. Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

Changes in the visual characteristics of uranium oxide surfaces and morphology following storage under different conditions of temperature and relative humidity may provide insight into the history of an unknown sample. Sub-samples of three α-U₃O₈ materials—one that was phase-pure and two that were phase-impure—were stored under controlled conditions for two years. We used scanning electron microscopy to image the oxides before and after storage, and a morphology lexicon was used to characterize the images. Finally, temporal changes in morphology were observed in some sub-samples, and changes were greatest following exposure to high relative humidity.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396; IAA HSHQDC-13-X-00269; HDHQDC-08-X-00805; 2012-DN-130-NF001-02; LA-UR-16-21674
• OSTI ID: 1304719
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-16-21674
• Journal Information: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry; ISSN 0236-5731
• Publisher: Springer
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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