Radiation damage and simulated fission product effects on the properties of inert matrix materials

Abstract Candidate inert matrix materials for actinide transmutation (MgAl 2 O 4 , CeO 2 ) or immobilization (ZrSiO 4 ) containing 241 Am were characterized. The currently most considered material, ZrO 2 , was produced, with La 2 O 3 as stand-in for Am, and with and without simulated fission products to investigate burnup effects. The oxygen potential was measured using an EMF cell. The accumulation of radiation damage due to Am decay was investigated by periodically measuring lattice parameters and hardness. Sequential leaching tests in deionized water, aimed at correlating the leaching behaviour of Am and of the matrix with radiation damage, showed significant release of Am and of some matrix components.