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Zircon: A host-phase for the disposal of weapons plutonium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

R.C. Ewing ,
Werner Lutze  and
William J. Weber
R.C. Ewing*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131–1341
Werner Lutze
Affiliation:
Center for Radioactive Waste Management, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
William J. Weber
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author.
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Abstract

Zircon, ZrSiO4, is a well-characterized, naturally occurring phase that is extremely durable. Zircon has been synthesized with Pu-concentrations up to 10 wt. % and radiation-damage effects studied to saturation doses of nearly 0.8 displacements per atom. We propose that zircon be used as a waste form for the disposal of the more than 100 metric tons of plutonium that will result from the dismantling of nuclear weapons. There are already several demonstrated processing technologies, of which hot pressing offers the most potential. This highly durable material, even under hydrothermal conditions, with its high waste loading and smaller volume allows deep, permanent disposal of the weapons plutonium in geologic environments in which the borosilicate waste-form glass would not be stable.

Type
Rapid Communication
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , February 1995 , pp. 243 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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