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The 244Cm-doping method was used to evaluate changes in microstructure, crystal structure, density, and stored energy in a nuclear waste glass, a glass-ceramic, and a predominantly crystalline "supercalcine." Significant dimensional changes occur in all of the forms. In both of the crystalline materials, the curium-containing phase becomes X-ray amorphous after doses > 3 X 10" cu-decays/tm3 are absorbed. However, no apparent microstructural changes or loss of integrity occur. In all cases, damage appears to saturate following expected exponential ingrowth curves.

Radiation effects studies in both glass and glass ceramic nuclear waste forms have identified a rare-earth titanate phase of the general formula (RE) 2Ti207 which is capable of acting as a host phase for actinides.1,2 Ringwood and co-workers3 have also proposed a structurally similar phase, zirconolite (CaZrTi2 07), as one of the primary host phases in the SYNROC waste form. Data from these and other previous studies, as well as mineralogical information available on these titanate phases, have not provided an unambiguous interpretation of the effects of radiation damage relative to nuclear waste forms. This paper reports new laboratory data concerning radiation damage effects in both of these phases.