Abstract:
In order to get the physical properties, phase change and microstructure of waste forms containing plutonium, cerium with four valences was used as the simulacrum for plutonium with tetravalence. Pyrochlore Gd
2Zr
2O
7 as waste forms was prepared by Gd
2O
3, ZrO
2 and CeO
2 powders with high temperature solid-state method. The solid solubility of pyrochlore Gd
2Zr
2O
7 is ranged from 0 to 100% (in mole) dosage. Waste forms were characterized with density, rigidity, phase composition and micromorphology. The results show that density and rigidity
HV increase with
x, rigidity and the addition of Ce satisfy the relation:
HV=661.272 73+223.936 36
x(
R2=0.946 38). When
x=0.0, the waste forms are single pyrochlore structure; when
x=0.2, the waste forms transform from pyrochlore into fluorite structure. In the interval 0.2≤
x≤2.0, the waste forms are single fluorite structure. Microstructure of waste forms is not regular and plate-like.