Use of dopants for thoria sintering temperature reduction-characterization of THO2
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2016
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Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
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Thorium is nearly three times more abundant than uranium in the Earth’s crust. Some papers evaluate the thorium resources
in Brazil over 1,200,000 metric t. These figures mean that the country is probably the biggest thorium resource in the world, with only
part of the territory prospected. Nevertheless, Brazil has not a research program for use of thorium in nuclear reactors, even having
dedicated special attention to the subject in the beginning of its nuclear activities, in the fifties and sixties. From 1985 until 2003 IPEN
operated a pilot plant for thorium nitrate production and purification, used by Brazilian industry for production of gas mantles. This
facility produced over 170 metric t of thorium nitrate. Despite the non-nuclear application, the pilot plant was unique in the southern
hemisphere. On the other hand, Brazil has the biggest world niobium resources. The Brazilian thorium and niobium resources added to
the predictable future importance of alternative fissile materials have motivated this research, since uranium is a finite resource if used
in the present thermal nuclear reactors. Besides this, thorium oxide is an important nuclear reactor material. It is a refractory oxide and
its ceramic fabrication process involves a very high temperature sintering treatment considering that thoria melting point is very high
(3,650 K). Cations of elements of the group VB (V, Nb and Ta) have a known effect in the reduction of thoria sintering temperature.
IPEN has initiated an investigation about the use of niobium as a dopant for thoria sintering temperature reduction. The thoria used in
the research was produced in the IPEN’s pilot plant and different amounts of niobium oxide (Nb2O5) will be added to thoria by different
routes. The powders will be compressed and the compacted pellets will be sintered at different temperatures. The influence of the
different parameters in the density of sintered pellets is being investigated. This paper presents the chemical and physical
characterization for the thoria used in the investigation.
Como referenciar
TAKIISHI, HIDETOSHI; GENOVA, LUIS A.; CAVALHEIRA, ELTON D.; COTRIM, MARYCEL B.; SANTOS, WILSON; LAINETTI, PAULO E.O. Use of dopants for thoria sintering temperature reduction-characterization of THO2. Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, v. 10, n. 12, p. 740-745, 2016. DOI: 10.17265/1934-8975/2016.12.004. Disponível em: http://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/27158. Acesso em: 20 Mar 2025.
Esta referência é gerada automaticamente de acordo com as normas do estilo IPEN/SP (ABNT NBR 6023) e recomenda-se uma verificação final e ajustes caso necessário.