A study of reactivity and sinterability of uranium dioxide powder through surface adsorption

It is experimentally shown that the surface adsorption provides a useful method for characterising the reactivity and sintering behaviour of uranium dioxide powder. A correspondence is established between the amount of adsorbate per gram of the powder and the behaviour of the powder as reflected in its sintered density. The results of studies on the adsorption of ferric (Fe3+) and manganese (Mn2+) ions on several grades of uranium dioxide powders are presented here. Along with the surface adsorption, specific surface area, average particle size and sintered density have also been measured. The data are analysed to show that the amount of adsorbate per gram of uranium dioxide powder provides a reliable parameter to assess the surface activity and sintering behaviour of this material. A chemical criterion for the selection of adsorbing species to be used in this kind of adsorption studies is also given. (orig.)