Investigating solid-state reactions in UAl2-Al dispersions for Mo-99 target fabrication

IF 1.6 3区工程技术 Q3 CHEMISTRY, INORGANIC & NUCLEAR

Applied Radiation and Isotopes Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.111763

Thomaz Augusto Guisard Restivo , Giovanni de Lima Cabral Conturbia , Elita Fontenele Urano de Carvalho , Michelangelo Durazzo

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Abstract

Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the parent isotope of the widely used medical radioisotope technetium-99m (Tc-99m), is primarily produced via neutron irradiation of uranium-containing targets in research reactors. UAl₂-Al dispersions, with UAl₂ particles embedded in an aluminum matrix, are commonly employed for target fabrication. This study employs a new method for investigating the solid-state reactions between UAl₂ and the Al matrix during target fabrication using stepwise isothermal dilatometry (SID). The study focuses on the formation of UAl₃ and UAl₄, which are less dense than UAl₂ and result in material expansion detected by the linear displacement, which relates to reaction conversion. By analyzing the linear expansion data from 560 °C to 630 °C, SID determines apparent activation energies and identifies the D2 diffusion rate model as the best fit, indicating a fast reaction rate along the UAl₂/Al interfaces and highlighting the crucial role of interface diffusion in the process. This information is crucial for optimizing target fabrication and controlling the final composition of Mo-99 targets.

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来源期刊

Applied Radiation and Isotopes 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

12.50%

发文量

406

审稿时长

13.5 months

期刊介绍： Applied Radiation and Isotopes provides a high quality medium for the publication of substantial, original and scientific and technological papers on the development and peaceful application of nuclear, radiation and radionuclide techniques in chemistry, physics, biochemistry, biology, medicine, security, engineering and in the earth, planetary and environmental sciences, all including dosimetry. Nuclear techniques are defined in the broadest sense and both experimental and theoretical papers are welcome. They include the development and use of α- and β-particles, X-rays and γ-rays, neutrons and other nuclear particles and radiations from all sources, including radionuclides, synchrotron sources, cyclotrons and reactors and from the natural environment. The journal aims to publish papers with significance to an international audience, containing substantial novelty and scientific impact. The Editors reserve the rights to reject, with or without external review, papers that do not meet these criteria. Papers dealing with radiation processing, i.e., where radiation is used to bring about a biological, chemical or physical change in a material, should be directed to our sister journal Radiation Physics and Chemistry.