Radiation-induced microcrystal shape change as a mechanism of wasteform degradation.

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Title: Radiation-induced microcrystal shape change as a mechanism of wasteform degradation.
Authors: Ojovan, Michael I.1,2 m.ojovan@imperial.ac.uk, Burakov, Boris E.3 burakov@peterlink.ruand, Lee, William E.2 w.e.lee@imperial.ac.uk
Source: Journal of Nuclear Materials. Apr2018, Vol. 501, p162-171. 10p.
Subjects: Microcrystalline polymers, Actinide elements, Radiation chemistry, Devitrification, Single crystals
Abstract: Experiments with actinide-containing insulating wasteforms such as devitrified glasses containing 244 Cm, Ti-pyrochlore, single-phase La-monazite, Pu-monazite ceramics, Eu-monazite and zircon single crystals containing 238 Pu indicate that mechanical self-irradiation-induced destruction may not reveal itself for many years (even decades). The mechanisms causing these slowly-occurring changes remain unknown therefore in addition to known mechanisms of wasteform degradation such as matrix swelling and loss of solid solution we have modelled the damaging effects of electrical fields induced by the decay of radionuclides in clusters embedded in a non-conducting matrix. Three effects were important: (i) electric breakdown; (ii) cluster shape change due to dipole interaction, and (iii) cluster shape change due to polarisation interaction. We reveal a critical size of radioactive clusters in non-conducting matrices so that the matrix material can be damaged if clusters are larger than this critical size. The most important parameters that control the matrix integrity are the radioactive cluster (inhomogeneity) size, specific radioactivity, and effective matrix electrical conductivity. We conclude that the wasteform should be as homogeneous as possible and even electrically conductive to avoid potential damage caused by electrical charges induced by radioactive decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Nuclear Materials is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ojovan%2C+Michael+I%2E%22">Ojovan, Michael I.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><i> m.ojovan@imperial.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burakov%2C+Boris+E%2E%22">Burakov, Boris E.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><i> burakov@peterlink.ruand</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lee%2C+William+E%2E%22">Lee, William E.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> w.e.lee@imperial.ac.uk</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Nuclear+Materials%22">Journal of Nuclear Materials</searchLink>. Apr2018, Vol. 501, p162-171. 10p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microcrystalline+polymers%22">Microcrystalline polymers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Actinide+elements%22">Actinide elements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radiation+chemistry%22">Radiation chemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Devitrification%22">Devitrification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Single+crystals%22">Single crystals</searchLink>
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  Data: Experiments with actinide-containing insulating wasteforms such as devitrified glasses containing 244 Cm, Ti-pyrochlore, single-phase La-monazite, Pu-monazite ceramics, Eu-monazite and zircon single crystals containing 238 Pu indicate that mechanical self-irradiation-induced destruction may not reveal itself for many years (even decades). The mechanisms causing these slowly-occurring changes remain unknown therefore in addition to known mechanisms of wasteform degradation such as matrix swelling and loss of solid solution we have modelled the damaging effects of electrical fields induced by the decay of radionuclides in clusters embedded in a non-conducting matrix. Three effects were important: (i) electric breakdown; (ii) cluster shape change due to dipole interaction, and (iii) cluster shape change due to polarisation interaction. We reveal a critical size of radioactive clusters in non-conducting matrices so that the matrix material can be damaged if clusters are larger than this critical size. The most important parameters that control the matrix integrity are the radioactive cluster (inhomogeneity) size, specific radioactivity, and effective matrix electrical conductivity. We conclude that the wasteform should be as homogeneous as possible and even electrically conductive to avoid potential damage caused by electrical charges induced by radioactive decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Nuclear Materials is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.01.030
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 162
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Microcrystalline polymers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Actinide elements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radiation chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Devitrification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Single crystals
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Radiation-induced microcrystal shape change as a mechanism of wasteform degradation.
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            NameFull: Burakov, Boris E.
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            NameFull: Lee, William E.
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            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2018
              Type: published
              Y: 2018
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              Value: 501
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