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Synthesis of simulant ‘lava-like’ fuel containing materials (LFCM) from the Chernobyl reactor Unit 4 meltdown

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2016

Sean T. Barlow ,
Daniel J. Bailey ,
Adam J. Fisher ,
Martin C. Stennett ,
Claire L. Corkhill  and
Neil C. Hyatt
Sean T. Barlow
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Daniel J. Bailey
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Adam J. Fisher
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Martin C. Stennett
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Claire L. Corkhill
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Neil C. Hyatt*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
*
*(Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

A preliminary investigation of the synthesis and characterization of simulant ‘lava-like’ fuel containing materials (LFCM), as low activity analogues of LFCM produced by the melt down of Chernobyl Unit 4. Simulant materials were synthesized by melting batched reagents in a tube furnace at 1500 °C, under reducing atmosphere with controlled cooling to room temperature, to simulate conditions of lava formation. Characterization using XRD and SEM-EDX identified several crystalline phases including ZrO2, UOx and solid solutions with spherical metal particles encapsulated by a glassy matrix. The UOX and ZrO2 phase morphology was very diverse comprising of fused crystals to dendritic crystallites from the crystallization of uranium initially dissolved in the glass phase. This project aims to develop simulant LFCM to assess the durability of Chernobyl lavas and to determine the rate of dissolution, behavior and evolution of these materials under shelter conditions.

Keywords

nuclear materialsx-ray diffraction (XRD)scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 2 , Issue 11: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XL , 2017 , pp. 609 - 614
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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References

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