Irradiation-induced reduction of microcracking in zirconolite

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-44-663· OSTI ID:6449469

Clinard, Jr, F W; Tucker, D S; Hurley, G F; Kise, C D; Rankin, J

/sup 238/Pu-substituted zirconolite (CaPuTi/sub 2/O/sub 7/) was stored near ambient temperature for 231 days, equivalent to an alpha decay dose of 3.1x10/sup 25/ ..cap alpha../m/sup 3/ or 3x10/sup 5/ years of storage time for SYNROC ceramic nuclear waste. Periodic indentation testing showed that hardness was decreased by alpha decay-induced conversion to the metamict state, while fracture toughness and resistance to cracking were increased, apparently as a consequence of the formation of a heterogeneous microstructure. These results imply improved stability of this nuclear waste phase as a result of self-irradiation damage. 21 references, 4 figures.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6449469
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-84-3383; CONF-841157-8; ON: DE85002410
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 44; Conference: Symposium on the scientific basis for nuclear waste management, Boston, MA, USA, 26 Nov 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ZIRCONOLITE
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
HARDNESS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
SELF-IRRADIATION
CRYSTAL-PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
DOPED MATERIALS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MICROSTRUCTURE
PLUTONIUM 238
SYNTHETIC ROCKS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DATA
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON OXIDES
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MINERALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
ROCKS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
THORIUM OXIDES
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES
360206* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Radiation Effects
360202 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Structure & Phase Studies
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage