Research in the patterns of time-related change in the structure and properties of plutonium dioxide produced with different process streams

The work reported in this paper represents the first step in a study of the changes that plutonium dioxide experiences when it is stored in air. Using x-ray analysis methods, we studied the changes in the phase composition, the crystal structure, the size of crystallites, and the level of micro-distortions of the lattice that are the result of the action of the a-particles given off by the plutonium in natural radioactive decay (self-irradiation). In addition, an attempt is made here to elucidate the effect that the method for producing the dioxide has on the course of the above-enumerated processes when the dioxide is stored