Valence states of uranium and gamma irradiation defects in soda-phosphate glasses

摘要

Glass matrices are of great interest for the storage of the nuclear wastes [1-3] among which uranium is a major component. The solubility and stability of uranium ions in a glass matrix depend on their valence states. The most soluble ions are not the easiest to stabilize in the same matrix [4, 5] in order to avoid the appearance of uranium at the surface layer. For these reasons, glass matrices used as a nuclear waste host must be able to incorporate a high content of radiative nucleides in convenient valence states. The effects of external radiation applied to these materials could offer information about the physical changes caused during the storage time by own radiation arising from the incorporated waste.