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

IF 1.8 3区工程技术 Q3 CHEMISTRY, INORGANIC & NUCLEAR Applied Radiation and Isotopes Pub Date : 2025-06-01 Epub 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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用于Mo-99靶材制备的UAl2-Al分散体固态反应研究

钼-99 （Mo-99）是广泛使用的医用放射性同位素锝-99m （Tc-99m）的母体同位素，主要是通过研究堆中含铀目标的中子辐照产生的。UAl2- al分散体，将UAl2颗粒嵌入铝基体中，通常用于靶材制造。本研究采用渐进式等温膨胀法（SID）研究了UAl2与Al基体在靶材制备过程中的固态反应。研究重点是UAl3和UAl4的形成，它们的密度比UAl2小，通过线性位移检测到材料膨胀，这与反应转化有关。通过分析560 ~ 630°C的线性膨胀数据，SID确定了表观活化能，并确定D2扩散速率模型是最合适的，表明沿UAl2/Al界面的反应速率很快，突出了界面扩散在该过程中的关键作用。这些信息对于优化靶材制造和控制Mo-99靶材的最终组成至关重要。

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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.