Post Irradiation Examination of Irradiated Americium Oxide and Uranium Dioxide in Magnesium Aluminate Spinel

Abstract To study MgAl 2 O 4 spinel as inert matrix material for the transmutation of minor actinides, two capsules were irradiated at the high flux reactor in Petten, containing 12.5 wt% micro-dispersed 241 AmO x in spinel and 25 wt% micro-dispersed enriched UO 2 in spinel. During irradiation, the initially present 241 Am was converted for 99.8% to fission products (50%), plutonium (30%), curium (16%) and 243 Am (4%). The UO 2 spinel target experienced a burn-up of 32% fission per initial metal atom. The post irradiation examination of the AmO x inert matrix target showed swelling of 27 vol.%, and a gas release of 48% for He and 16% for Xe and Kr. The UO 2 inert matrix target also showed a large volumetric swelling of 11%, directed mainly radially. Ceramography on the UO 2 inert matrix target revealed a complete restructuring of the spinel grains upon irradiation and the absence of porosity, suggesting that amorphisation is the main cause of the swelling.