Test Results from Gamma Irradiation of Aluminum Oxyhydroxides

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1034527· OSTI ID:1034527

Fisher, D. L. ^[1]; Westbrook, M. L. ^[1]; Sindelar, R. L. ^[1]

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1. Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)

Hydrated metal oxides or oxyhydroxides boehmite and gibbsite that can form on spent aluminum-clad nuclear fuel assemblies during in-core and post-discharge wet storage were exposed as granular powders to gamma irradiation in a ⁶⁰Co irradiator in closed laboratory test vessels with air and with argon as separate cover gases. The results show that boehmite readily evolves hydrogen with exposure up to a dose of 1.8 x 10⁸ rad, the maximum tested, in both a full-dried and moist condition of the powder, whereas only a very small measurable quantity of hydrogen was generated from the granular powder of gibbsite. Specific information on the test setup, sample characteristics, sample preparation, irradiation, and gas analysis are described.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1034527
• Report Number(s): SRNL--STI-2011-00602
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
AIR
ALUMINIUM
ARGON
Boehmite
GAS ANALYSIS
GASES
GIBBSITE
Gibbsite
HYDROGEN
IRRADIATION
NUCLEAR FUELS
OXIDES
SAMPLE PREPARATION
WET STORAGE