Nuclear Engineering and Technology

  • 제53권1호
  • /
  • Pages.188-198
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  • 2021
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  • 1738-5733(pISSN)
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  • 2234-358X(eISSN)
한국원자력학회 (Korean Nuclear Society)
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Preparation by the double extraction process with preliminary neutron irradiation of yttria or calcia stabilised cubic zirconium dioxide microspheres

  • 투고 : 2020.05.14
  • 심사 : 2020.06.29
  • 발행 : 2021.01.25
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초록

A modern approach to nuclear energy involves reprocessing like transmutations of spent nuclear fuel products to reduce their radiotoxicity and time needed for their storage. For this purpose, they are immobilized in inert matrices made of zirconia and can be "burned" in fast neutron reactor or Accelerator Driven System. These matrices in spherical form can be obtained by sol-gel process. The paper presents a method of microspheres fabrication based on the combined Complex Sol-Gel Process and double extraction process consisting in the preparation of zirconium-ascorbate sol and simultaneous extraction of water and nitrates. The procedure allows obtaining gel microspheres with a diameter of 50 ㎛, which after heat treatment are processed into the final product. The synthesis of zirconia microspheres with Yttrium by internal gelation process is well known for over a decade now. However, the explanation and characterization of synthesis of such material by extraction of water process is rarely found. Parameters such as: pH, viscosity, shape, sphericity and crystal structure have been determined for synthesized products and semi-products. In addition, preliminary research consisting in irradiation of the obtained materials in fast and thermal neutron flux was carried out. The obtained results are presented and described in this work.

키워드

과제정보

This work is one part of the studies in the National Centre for Research and Development, project "Technology Supporting the Development of Safe Nuclear Power", (SP/J/4/143 321/11), part of the "Development of Techniques and Technologies Supporting the Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste." The authors wish to acknowledge R. Laskowska for preliminary works on preparation of sol solutions and gelation to gels microspheres, Dr B. Sartowska and K. Lyczko for SEM and IR characterization, respectively.

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