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Title: Self-radiation damage in actinide host phases of nuclear waste forms. [Ca/sub 2/Nd/sub 8/(SiO/sub 4/)/sub 6/O/sub 2/; Gd/sub 2/Ti/sub 2/O/sub 7/; CaZrTi/sub 2/O/sub 7/]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6260154

Three crystalline ceramic materials (Ca/sub 2/Nd/sub 8/(SiO/sub 4/)/sub 6/O/sub 2/, Gd/sub 2/Ti/sub 2/O/sub 7/, CaZrTi/sub 2/O/sub 7/), which occur as host phases for the long-lived actinides in many nuclear waste formulations, were doped with Cm-244, and the effects of self-radiation damage from alpha decay on microstructure and physical properties were investigated. The irradiation-induced microstructure consisted of individual amorphous tracks from both the alpha-recoil particles and the spontaneous fission fragments. The eventual overlap of the tracks at higher doses leads to a completely amorphous state. This radiation-induced amorphization process results in measured increases in volume, leachability, and stored energy. Thermal recovery of the radiation-induced swelling and amorphization occurs with full recrystallization to the initial structures.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA); Commission of the European Communities, Karlsruhe (Germany, F.R.). European Inst. for Transuranium Elements
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
6260154
Report Number(s):
PNL-SA-12314; CONF-841157-42; ON: DE85004555
Resource Relation:
Conference: Symposium on the scientific basis for nuclear waste management, Boston, MA, USA, 26 Nov 1984
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English