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Phase composition of the ceramics based on Rare Earth, Manganese and Titanium Oxides
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
Abstract
Ceramics in systems with rare earth (REE = Y, Sm, Gd), manganese, and titanium oxides are considered as potential matrices for immobilization of REE- and actinide-containing radioactive wastes. Ceramics of this type were synthesized from oxide mixtures by a cold pressing and sintering method at temperatures of 1300-1400 °C as well as plasma heating. Major phases in the ceramics were found to be the phases of the pyrochlore-murataite polysomatic series with three- (3C), five- (5C), and seven-fold (7C) elementary fluorite unit cell. Perovskite/pyrophanite, hibonite/loveringite as well as garnet in the samples contained extra Fe and Al oxides were present as minor phases. Formation of the murataite, to be exact – structures built from murataite and pyrochlore modules, is more characteristic of the Y-bearing systems rather than the systems with heavier lanthanides. Increase of ionic radius of the REE trends towards formation of the pyrochlore structure phases whereas occurrence of large-size cations (La) stimulates formation of the perovskite structure phase. In the Y-bearing system murataite formation takes place at relative low Y2O3 concentrations (<15 mole %) and TiO2 content as high as ∼60 mole % and MnOx – 15-20 mole %. Higher Y2O3 concentrations and Gd2O3 substitution for Y2O3 yields preferably the pyrochlore phase or may favor formation of the phase with the 7C polytype.
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006
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