THE EXCHANGE OF ISOTOPICALLY ENRICHED OXYGEN WITH 238Pu02 SOL-GEL MICROSPHERES

摘要

An exchange reaction between 238Pu02 sol-gel microspheres and oxygen enriched in 160 was performed at two temperatures, 700 and 850°C. A slower exchange rate was observed at 850°C and was thought to be due to the sintering of the microspheres. A neutron reduction, characteristic of an equilibrium condition, was observed at both temperatures;however, the spheres possessed a high neutron emission, probably due to light element impurities. An exchange reaction at 700°C coupled with sintering at 1200°C for several hours reduced the emission to the predicted value of 5.0 × 103 n/sec-g.