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Effect of Gadolinium Doping on the Air Oxidation of Uranium Dioxide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Randall D. Scheele ,
Brady D. Hanson ,
Stephen E. Cumblidge ,
Evan D. Jenson ,
Anne E. Kozelisky ,
Rachel L. Sell ,
Paul J. MacFarlan  and
Lanee A. Snow
Randall D. Scheele
Affiliation:
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352, USA, randall.scheele@pnl.gov
Brady D. Hanson
Affiliation:
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352, USA, randall.scheele@pnl.gov
Stephen E. Cumblidge
Affiliation:
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352, USA, randall.scheele@pnl.gov
Evan D. Jenson
Affiliation:
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352, USA, randall.scheele@pnl.gov
Anne E. Kozelisky
Affiliation:
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352, USA, randall.scheele@pnl.gov
Rachel L. Sell
Affiliation:
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352, USA, randall.scheele@pnl.gov
Paul J. MacFarlan
Affiliation:
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352, USA, randall.scheele@pnl.gov
Lanee A. Snow
Affiliation:
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352, USA, randall.scheele@pnl.gov
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Abstract

Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) investigated the effects of gadolinium oxide concentration on the air oxidization of gadolinium oxide-doped uranium dioxide using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry to determine if such doping could improve uraniumdioxide's stability as a nuclear fuel during potential accident scenarios in a nuclear reactor or during long-term disposal. We undertook this study to determine whether the resistance of the uranium dioxide to oxidation to the orthorhombic U3O8 with its attendant crystal expansion could be prevented by addition of gadolinium oxide. Our studies found that gadolinium has little effect on the thermal initiation of the first step of the reported two-step air oxidation of UO2; however, increasing gadolinium oxide content does stabilize the initial tetragonal or cubic product allowing significant oxidation before the second expansive step to U3O8 begins.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 824: Symposium CC – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVIII , 2004 , CC8.8
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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