Effect on sintering property of MoO pellets from different MoO powders

Nishikata, Kaori  ; Kimura, Akihiro ; Kakei, Sadanori*; Niizeki, Tomotake*; Ishida, Takuya; Yoshinaga, Hideo*; Hasegawa, Yoshio*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko 

Every year in Japan, nuclear medical of about 900,000 cases are carried out using technetiume-99m (Tc). It is ranked as the second in the world. But all of the Tc is imported from the other countries. Therefore, we are developing the (n, ) method for Mo production, as part of "increase of industrial use" in resumed operations after restart of Japan Materials Tasting Reactor (JMTR). In the study to establish the Mo production method through the (n, ) process domestically using the JMTR, three different MoO powders such as fresh, recycled and Mo enriched ones were selected, and characterized as in SEM and sintering. As a result, the high dense MoO pellet manufactured by the fresh powder attained over 90%T. D. at the sintering temperature of 500C. On the other hand, pellets manufactured by the other powders needs sintering temperature above 580C to attain over 90%T.D., resulting in an influence on the particle size and shape dependences for the sintering property.