Isothermal decomposition of gamma-irradiated samarium acetate

Isothermal decomposition of un-irradiated and pre-gamma-irradiated samarium acetate has been investigated at different temperatures between 613 and 63 3 K. Irradiation was observed to enhance the rate of decomposition without modifying the mechanism of thermal decomposition. Thermal decomposition of samarium acetate has been shown to proceed by two-dimensional phase-boundar y reaction both for un-irradiated and pre-gamma-irradiated samples. The enh ancement of the decomposition was found to increase with an increase in the gamma-ray dose applied to the sample and may be attributed to an increase in point defects and formation of additional nucleation centers generated i n the host lattice. Thermodynamic values of the main decomposition process were calculated and evaluated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.