THE EFFECT OF RADIATION AND NITRIC ACID-NITRATE SALT SOLUTION ON SOME NON-METALLIC MATERIALS

摘要

Several plastic materials and one ceramic alumina nave been tested for possible use as electrical insulators and spacers in an electrolytic dissolver for processing irradiated nuclear fuels. These were first screened for chemical resistance to the boiling dissolver product solution composed of 1 molar nitric acid and 75 g/l stainless steel. Those which were resistant were then exposed simultaneously to the boiling dissolver product solution and a gamma irradiation field. Values were obtained for the impact strength, compressive strength, and electrical resistivity of the more resistant materials. Those which gave the most favorable performance were:Kynar (polyvinylidene fluoride - Pennsalt Chemicals Corporation) up to 1 x 10 R total dose, Marlex (high density polyethylene - Phillips Petroleum Company) up to 2 x 109 R total dose, G-T glass fabric-silicone resin laminate (Taylor Corporation) up to 10 10R total dose, and ceramic alumina (AP 35 -McDanel Refractory Polcelain Company) to greater than 10 R total dose. If a limited service life is taken into consideration in the design of the equipment, any one of the four more resistant materials should prove acceptable for use as spacers and insulators in an electrolytic dissolver vessel.