THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTY MEASUREMENTS AND ION-IMPLANTATION STUDIES ON CEPO4

The thermal propel-ties and the response to fission-product damage of CePO4 were studied in view of its potential application as inert matri x for the transmutation of transuranium elements in nuclear reactors. The thermal expansion of CePO4 has been recorded from 293 K to 1323 K using X-rap diffraction. The reduced enthalpy increment of CePO4 has b een measured by drop calorimetry from 474 K to 934 K, The laser flash technique was used to measure the thermal diffusivity between 300 K an d 1150 K. Ion implantation studies were performed at 813 K with 72 MeV I-127 ions and at room temperature with 403 MeV Sn-116 ions. The resu lts are not favourable for the use of CePO4 as inert matrix to inciner ate actinides. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.