Removal of oxide film prepared under BWR condition by using atmospheric CF4/O-2 plasma decontamination process

It is of importance to develop the proper decontamination technique for dec ommissioning of nuclear plant. In this paper, in order to investigate the f easibility of plasma process operated at atmospheric pressure, cold experim ents to remove the oxide film deposited on the AISI 304 surface under the B WR condition were carried out. After 4 minutes plasma irradiation, surface changed significantly to be converted into metal fluorides which can be scr aped off easily. The removal rate due to fluorination reaction on surface d epends strongly on the number density of fluorine atoms in plasma. In our e xperimental conditions, the maximum removal rate 0.22 g.m(-2).min(-1) was o btained. From these results it is concluded that plasma decontamination met hod can be feasible.