RADIATION EFFECTS IN CRYSTALLINE CERAMICS FOR THE IMMOBILIZATION OF HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE AND PLUTONIUM

This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the state-of-knowle dge of radiation effects in crystalline ceramics that may be used for the immobilization of high-level nuclear waste and plutonium. The curr ent understanding of radiation damage processes, defect generation, mi crostructure development, theoretical methods, and experimental method s are reviewed. Fundamental scientific and technological issues that o ffer opportunities for research are identified. The most important iss ue is the need for an understanding of the radiation-induced structura l changes at the atomic, microscopic, and macroscopic levels, and the effect of these changes on the release rates of radionuclides during c orrosion.