Impact of the Synthesis Process on Structure Properties for AFCI Fuel Candidates

Authors

Kenneth Czerwinski, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Document Type

Annual Report

Publication Date

2007

First page number:

60

Last page number:

61

Abstract

Synthesis of actinium mononitrides using carbothermic reduction of the corresponding oxides has a few outstanding issues, including the formation of secondary phases such as oxides and carbides and low densities of the final product. Furthermore the requirement of a high process temperature at 1700°C, for more than 12 hours is also a drawback particularly for Americium-bearing samples. Therefore, it is important to explore the use of other possible routes to synthesize actinide mononitrides.

A low temperature process is used in this research to produce actinide mononitrides using a fluoride route in which the first step is to mix the actinide oxide with NH₄HF_2. The second step involves the heat-treatment of the resulting ammonium actinide fluoride salts in ammonia atmosphere. Using different analytical techniques available, the experimental conditions can be studied and optimized to synthesize the required materials with high phase purity. Such available techniques are X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG/DSC), and microscopic techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Once the experimental conditions are studied and optimized, a number of actinide nitride systems (uranium, thorium, and neptunium) will be synthesized and characterized to provide knowledge on the chemistry of the systems. Characterization of these nitride systems will include chemical phase identification, lattice parameter refinements, morphological studies, microstructural verifications, thermal behavior, reaction mechanism, and reaction kinetics.

Keywords

Mixed oxide fuels (Nuclear engineering); Nuclear chemistry; Nuclear fuels; Solid oxide fuel cells; Transmutation (Chemistry)

Controlled Subject

Mixed oxide fuels (Nuclear engineering); Nuclear chemistry; Transmutation (Chemistry)

Disciplines

Nuclear | Nuclear Engineering | Oil, Gas, and Energy

File Format

pdf

File Size

597 KB

Language

English

Repository Citation

Czerwinski, K. (2007). Impact of the Synthesis Process on Structure Properties for AFCI Fuel Candidates. 60-61.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/hrc_trp_fuels/72