Properties of minor actinide compounds relevant to nuclear fuel technology

Minato, Kazuo ; Takano, Masahide ; Nishi, Tsuyoshi; Ito, Akinori; Akabori, Mitsuo

To reduce the radiotoxicity of the high-level waste and to use the repository efficiently, recycling of minor actinides (MA: Np, Am, Cm) as well as plutonium is an option for the future nuclear fuel cycle. For MA-bearing fuel development, new facilities with inert atmosphere were installed and the thermal properties of minor actinide compounds, especially nitrides and oxides, were measured. Minor actinide nitrides were prepared by carbothermic reduction of the oxides. Lattice parameter and its thermal expansion were measured by high-temperature X-ray diffraction, and thermal diffusivity by laser flash method.