PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE PARTICLE PROPERTIES AS A FUNCTION OF CALCINATION TEMPERATURE

Powder samples of plutonium dioxide calcined at different temperatures have been characterized. Microcrystal size, number and mass distribut ions, particle morphology and specific surface area have been studied as a function of the oxide calcination temperature. Microcrystal sizes increase as a result of an increase in the calcination temperature; i n contrast, the mass distribution of particle size is not very sensiti ve to this parameter. Even if not characterized directly, surface roug hness and porosity are certainly decreasing functions of calcination t emperatures since the grain surface structure and morphology, as well as the specific surface areal significantly decrease with increasing c alcination temperatures.