Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Characterization and thermophysical properties of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9-MgO composite

  • Nandi, Chiranjit (Radiometallurgy Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) ;
  • Kaity, Santu (Radiometallurgy Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) ;
  • Jain, Dheeraj (Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) ;
  • Grover, V. (Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) ;
  • Prakash, Amrit (Radiometallurgy Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) ;
  • Behere, P.G. (Radiometallurgy Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre)
  • Received : 2020.01.03
  • Accepted : 2020.07.15
  • Published : 2021.02.25
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Abstract

The major drawback of zirconia-based materials, in view of their applications as targets for minor actinide transmutation, is their poor thermal conductivity. The addition of MgO, which has high thermal conductivity, to zirconia-based materials is expected to improve their thermal conductivity. On these grounds, the present study aims at phase characterization and thermophysical property evaluation of neodymium-substituted zirconia (Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9; using Nd2O3 as a surrogate for Am2O3) and its composites with MgO. The composite was prepared by a solid-state reaction of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9 (synthesized by gel combustion) and commercial MgO powders at 1773 K. Phase characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction and the microstructural investigation was performed using a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The linear thermal expansion coefficient of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9 increases upon composite formation with MgO, which is attributed to a higher thermal expansivity of MgO. Similarly, specific heat also increases with the addition of MgO to Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9. Thermal conductivity was calculated from measured thermal diffusivity, temperature-dependent density and specific heat values. Thermal conductivity of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9-MgO (50 wt%) composite is more than that of typical UO2 fuel, supporting the potential of Zr0.8Nd0.2O1.9-MgO composites as target materials for minor actinides transmutation.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Mr. Vivek Bhasin, Director, Nuclear fuels Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, for his valuable suggestions and useful discussion regarding this work.

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