High temperature phase transition of mixed (PuO2 + ThO2) investigated by laser melting

A laser heating approach combined with fast pyrometry in a thermal arrest method was used to provide new data for the melting/solidification phase transition in mixed (PuO2 + ThO2) at high temperature. At low concentration of ThO2 in PuO2 a minimum in the solidification temperature in the pseudo binary (PuO2 + ThO2) was observed. The minimum was...

The solidification behaviour of the UO2–ThO2 system in a laser heating study

The high-temperature phase diagram of the UO2–ThO2 system has been experimentally revisited in the present study for the first time since 1970, using a laser heating approach combined with fast pyrometry in a thermal arrest method. The melting/solidification temperature, which is of fundamental information for a reactor design was studied here....

Revisiting the melting temperature of NpO2 and the challenges associated with high temperature actinide compound measurements

This work revisits the melting behaviour of neptunium dioxide, an actinide compound which can be produced in the nuclear fuel during operation, and which has an important impact on the nuclear fuel and waste radioactivity especially on the very long term. The present experimental approach employs remote laser heating under controlled atmosphere...