Abstract
Zircon, ZrSiO4, is a well-characterized, naturally occurring phase that is extremely durable. Zircon has been synthesized with Pu-concentrations up to 10 wt. % and radiation-damage effects studied to saturation doses of nearly 0.8 displacements per atom. We propose that zircon be used as a waste form for the disposal of the more than 100 metric tons of plutonium that will result from the dismantling of nuclear weapons. There are already several demonstrated processing technologies, of which hot pressing offers the most potential. This highly durable material, even under hydrothermal conditions, with its high waste loading and smaller volume allows deep, permanent disposal of the weapons plutonium in geologic environments in which the borosilicate waste-form glass would not be stable.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
S. Iijima, Nature 354, 56–58 (1991).
R. S. Ruoff, J. Tersoff, D. C. Lorents, S. Subramoney, and B. Chan, Nature 364, 514–516 (1993).
P. M. Ajayan and S. Iijima, Nature 361, 333–334 (1993).
P. Ross, Sci. Am. 265, 16 (1991).
O. Zhou, R. M. Fleming, D. W. Murphy, C. H. Chen, R. C. Haddon, A. P. Ramirez, and S. H. Glarum, Science 263, 1744–1747 (1994).
T. W. Ebbesen and P. M. Ajayan, Nature 358, 220–222 (1992).
P. M. Ajayan, T. W. Ebbesen, S. Iijima, T. Ichihashi, K. Tanigaki, and H. Hiura, Nature 362, 522–525 (1993).
Y. Saito, T. Yoshikawa, M. Okuda, and N. Fujimoto, J. Appl. Phys. 75 (1), 134–137 (1994).
P. H. Tewari, A. J. Hunt, J. G. Lieber, and K. D. Lofftus, in Aerogels, edited by J. Fricke (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986), pp. 31–37.
W. Cao, X. Y. Song, and A. J. Hunt, in Novel Forms of Carbon II, edited by C. L. Renschler, J. J. Pouch, D. M. Cox, and Y. Achiba (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 349, Pittsburgh, PA, 1994).
U.S. Iijima, T. Ichihashi, and Y. Ando, Nature 356,776–778 (1992).
S. Seraphin, D. Zhou, and J. Jiao, Carbon 31 (5), 685–689 (1993).
R. J. Dewit, J. Appl. Phys. 42, 3304 (1971).
V. P. Dravid, X. Lin, Y. Wang, X. K. Wang, A. Yee, J. B. Ketterson, and R. P. H. Chang, Science 259 (12), 1601 (1993).
X. P. Zhang, X.B. Zhang, C. V. Tendeloo, S. Amelinckx, M. O. Beeck, and J. V. Landuyt, J. Cryst. Growth 130, 368–382 (1993).
P. M. Ajayan, T. Ichihashi, and S. Iijima, Chem. Phys. Lett. 202 (5), 384 (1993).
X. Y. Song, W. Cao, and A. J. Hunt, in Novel Forms of Carbon II, edited by C. L. Renschler, J. J. Pouch, D. M. Cox, and Y. Achiba (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 349, Pittsburgh, PA, 1994).
S. A. Majetich, J. O. Artman, M. E. McHenry, N. T. Nuhfer, and S. W. Staley, Phys. Rev. B 48, 16845 (1993).
R. S. Ruoff, D. C. Lorents, B. Chan, R. Malhotra, and S. Subramoney, Science 259 (15), 346 (1993).
M. Liu and J. M. Cowley, Carbon 32 (3), 393–403 (1994).
M. S. Dresselhaus, G. Dresselhaus, and P. C. Eklund, J. Mater. Res. 8, 2054–2097 (1993).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Address all correspondence to this author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ewing, R.C., Lutze, W. & Weber, W.J. Zircon: A host-phase for the disposal of weapons plutonium. Journal of Materials Research 10, 243–246 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1995.0243
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1995.0243