Lattice thermal expansion of Pu1−yAmyO2−xplutonium–americium mixed oxides

Abstract

Plutonium–americium mixed oxides, Pu1−yAmyO2−x, with various Am contents (y= 0.018, 0.077, 0.21, 0.49, 0.80 and 1.00) were studiedin situby high-temperature X-ray diffraction. In this study, the lattice thermal expansion of the six compounds subjected to heat treatments up to 1773 K under reconstituted air (N2+ 21% O2+ ∼5 vpm H2O) was investigated. The materials remained monophasic throughout the experiments and, depending upon the americium content, the lattice parameter of the face-centred cubic phase deviated from linear lattice expansion at elevated temperatures as a result of the progressive reduction of Am4+to Am3+.