Water sorption mechanisms for MIS materials.
- Douglas Kirk
- Richard E.
- Randall M.
The fundamental processes that control the amount of water sorbed by impure plutonium-containing materials after calcination are reviewed. Of particular interest is the amount of and rate of moisture sorption at 1000 PPMv (parts-per-million vapor; -3% RH at 25 'C) and 10,000 PPMv (32% RH at 25 'C). Pure plutonium oxide powders will remain below the 0.5 wt% criterion for packaging in the DOE 3013 Standard at both water vapor concentrations [I]. Deliquescent salts that have been observed in calcined materials by DOES Materials Identification and Surveillance (MIS) program will exceed the 0.5 wt% criterion at 10,000 PPMv and will meet that standard at 1,000 PPMv. Hydrated salts will exceed the 0.5 wt% criterion at all technologically achievable water vapor concentrations if allowed to reach equilibrium. Controlling the moisture availability by controlling the atmospheric content at 1000 PPM' and limiting the access to atmospheric moisture after stabilization through the use of a properly configured stabilization boat will minimize moisture uptake by these materials.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 976288
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-02-5103; TRN: US1006867
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Submitted to: American Nuclear Society Fifth Topical Meeting for Spent Nuclear Fuel and Fissile Materials Management, Sept. 17-20, 2002, Charleston, SC
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
TECHNICAL BASIS FOR DOE STANDARD 3013 EQUIVALENCY SUPPORTING REDUCED TEMPERATURE STABILIZATION OF OXALATE-DERIVED PLUTONIUM OXIDE PRODUCED BY THE HB-LINE FACILITY AT SAVANNAH RIVER SITE
Re-evaluation of Moisture Controls During ARIES Oxide Processing, Packaging and Characterization