Immobilization of simulated An3+ into synthetic Gd2Zr2O7 ceramic by SPS without occupation or valence design

To simplify the immobilized process of nuclear waste, synthetic Gd2Zr2O7 ceramic was employed to immobilize simulated An(3+) (Nd3+) by spark plasma sintering (SPS) without any ion occupation or valence design. Sintering and characterization of immobilized simulated An(3+) with various doping amounts were carried out. The effects of Nd2O3 content on the phase composition, active modes, micro-graph and density of the sintered ceramics were investigated. When the Nd2O3 doped amount reached up to 50 mol%, the raw peak of Nd2O3 existed. The sintered ceramics kept a single fluorite phase when Nd2O3 solubility achieved to 40 mol%. The sintered ceramics presented a well crystalline phase and the elements distributed evenly. In addition, as the Nd2O3 doped amount increase, the density and Vickers hardness values of Nd2O3 doped sample decrease.

Automated summary

The effects of Nd2O3 doping amount on the sintering characteristics of Gd2Zr2O7 ceramic immobilized simulated An(3+) were investigated, showing that an increase in Nd2O3 doping amount leads to a decrease in density and Vickers hardness values of the sintered ceramics.