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Observation of Studtite and Metastudtite on Spent Fuel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2011

Bruce McNamara ,
Edgar Buck  and
Brady Hanson
Bruce McNamara
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA
Edgar Buck
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA
Brady Hanson
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA
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Abstract

We have characterized uranyl peroxide phases on commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF) samples formed under immersion conditions. At short times, crystallites of metaschoepite were observed on the hydrated fuel particles. Over a two-year period, all evidences of metaschoepite disappeared and in many samples, the fuel particles appeared to be coated by a new alteration phase. Additionally, milligrams of corroded fuel aggregates were observed at the sample air-water interface in each sample. The corrosion phases on bulk fuel and on the suspended materials were examined by SEM, EDX, and XRD and were identified as studtite (UO4·4H20) and metastudtite (UO4·2H20), respectively. The reason for the partitioning of the two phases is unclear at this time. SEM micrographs of the bulk powders indicated extensive surface corrosion and fragmentation of particles.

Type
articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 757: Symposium II – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVI , 2002 , II9.7
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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References

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