Boron and Lead Based Chemically Bonded Phosphates Ceramics for Nuclear Waste and Radiation Shielding Applications

Abstract

We present research about the development of a fast setting ceramic materials fabricated with boron oxide, and wollastonite powders with potential use for nuclear waste transport, disposal, stabilization, and radiation shielding applications. The boron oxide is mixed with calcium silicate and phosphoric acid in order to consolidate a ceramic by an acid base-reaction. These materials have high compression strength when compared with cements and with other available solutions for the treatment of nuclear wastes, and are suitable as fire resistant shielding materials. Nuclear attenuation experiments, compressive strength, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize these materials. Our work indicates that a balance between lead oxide and boron oxide is needed to obtain a suitable hybrid material with good mechanical properties that can attenuate gammas and neutrons.

Meeting Name

Materials Science and Technology, MS&T 12 ( 2012: Oct. 7-11, Pittsburgh, PA)

Department(s)

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Keywords and Phrases

Phosphates Ceramics; Nuclear Waste; Radiation Shielding Applications; Phosphoric Acid; Calcium Silicate

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1042-1122

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2013 American Ceramic Society, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

11 Oct 2013

Link to Full Text

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