Nitride targets elaborated by sol-gel processing for actinide incineration

摘要

The transmutation of americium might be performed in a material with cubic phase like nitride considering the limitations of AmO(sub 2) (thermal conductivity, reactivity with sodium). Nitride with high plutonium contents are also proposed for highly evolved incineration of plutonium. Actinide nitride microspheres may be fabricated by co-processing of the metal salts together with carbon in an internal gelation process followed by transformation of the precipitated hydroxide in a carbothermic reduction. Based on the knowledge gained in the fabrication of uranium-plutonium nitrides, a similar approach is applied to americium. The fabrication of an inert matrix like uranium-free titanium and zirconium nitride targets is discussed and preparations of actinide nitride targets for irradiation in the French Phenix Fast Reactor are described. (authors). 15 refs., 2 figs., 4 tabs. (Atomindex citation 27:047017)