Response of strontium titanate to electron irradiation for the immobilization of strontium

Abstract

The radiation tolerance is a critical concern in nuclear waste host materials due to the decay of constituent radioactive elements. In order to evaluate the effect of beta irradiation on ceramic waste forms, the bulk SrTiO 3 ceramic was subjected to 1.8 MeV of electron irradiation and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and field scanning electron microscope, respectively. The dose rate was compared between electron irradiation and decay of 90 Sr. The results indicated that the as-prepared ceramic exhibits excellent resistance to electron radiation. The pristine crystalline form was retained after 1.8 MeV electron radiation. Also no noticeable change was observed in the measured elements distribution of the irradiated sample. The results indicated that the irradiation damage via beta decay is imperceptible in ceramic solids.

Matrices for radioactive waste immobilization: a review

“…Therefore, ceramic wasteforms are desired to be stable under the beta decay of Sr. In order to simulate the effect of energetic beta particles on the radiation stability of ceramic wasteforms, strontium titanate was irradiated with an electron beam of energy 1.8 MeV with a flux of 1.5 × 10 13 electrons/cm 2 .s 1 (Yang et al, 2015b). The energetic electrons can produce atomic displacements by depositing energy to the matrix, which may induce phase separation, chemical disordering, or amorphization in irradiated materials (Kinsho et al, 2003).…”