Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modelling of the ThF₄-PuF₃ phase diagram

Phase equilibria in the ThF₄-PuF₃ system were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Samples were encapsulated to prevent leakage during the measurements and to prevent fluoride contamination of the instrument. Formation of intermediate compounds and solid solutions was investigated by X-ray diffraction. A...

Vaporization behaviour of a PuF₃-containing fuel mixture for the Molten Salt Fast Reactor

The mixture LiF-ThF₄-UF₄-PuF₃ (77.5–6.6-12.3–3.6 mol%), a fuel option for the Molten Salt Fast Reactor (MSFR), has been measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for determination of phase transitions, and by Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry (KEMS) for measurement of partial vapour pressures. The...

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....