Pelletization with Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of Metal Iodides: An Assessment of Long-Term Radioiodine Immobilization Options
Four promising iodine “getter” materials (Ag, Cu, Bi, and Sn) for radioiodine capture were assessed in their pure metal-iodide (MIx) pelletized forms to compare relative chemical durabilities. To study chemical durability, commercial MIx compounds of AgI, BiI3, BiOI, CuI, and SnI4 were converted to dense monolithic pellets using spark plasma sintering. Semidynamic leach testing in the form of modified ASTM C1308 tests was then performed on the pellets in two different forms including unmounted (as-pressed) specimens (i.e., “U”) and epoxy-mounted specimens (i.e., “M”) with polished surfaces. The chemical durability results and sample characterizations showed that three of the five MIxmore »