Alpha-recoil damage: Relation to isotopic disequilibrium and leaching of radionuclides
- General Electric Research and Development Center, Schenectady, NY (USA)
The observation by Raabe et al. (1973) of large differences between the solubilities of isotopically different plutonium dioxides, has led to the recognition of preferential etching of recoil damage as a widespread phenomenon for alpha-active radionuclides. The associated preferential solubility of the products of alpha decay, along with direct recoil ejection, are the two specific microscopic mechanisms that are documented as causes of isotopic disequilibrium in the U and Th decay series. Similarly, leaching plays a significant role in releasing {sup 222}Rn from natural substances, {sup 222}Rn being the alpha-decay product of {sup 226}Ra. The average annealing time in nature of the damage sites can be inferred from the extent of isotopic disequilibrium for different isotopic pairs in the Th and U decay chains.
- OSTI ID:
- 5649510
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8703325--
- Journal Information:
- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA) Vol. 52:6; ISSN GCACA; ISSN 0016-7037
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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58 GEOSCIENCES
580400 -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
ALPHA DECAY
ANNEALING
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DECAY
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EQUILIBRIUM
GEOCHEMISTRY
HEAT TREATMENTS
HOT ATOM CHEMISTRY
INSTABILITY
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LEACHING
METALS
NUCLEAR DECAY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIOCHEMISTRY
RADIOISOTOPES
RECOILS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUBILITY
THORIUM
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM