Ceramic Matrix Composites and Phosphate Waste Forms for Nuclear Sequestration
This community develops advanced ceramic materials, specifically fiber-reinforced composites and crystalline phosphate structures, designed for high-temperature structural applications and the long-term immobilization of radioactive nuclear waste.
The work centers on two intertwined material systems: oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and rare-earth phosphate ceramics. For CMCs, researchers focus on fiber reinforcement, matrix densification, and interphase engineering to improve mechanical strength, thermal shock resistance, and high-temperature stability. For waste forms, the emphasis is on synthesizing stable solid solutions—such as monazite, xenotime, and zirconium phosphates—using methods like spark plasma sintering and hydrothermal synthesis. Key performance metrics include chemical durability, phase evolution, and the ability to immobilize radionuclides like strontium, cesium, and uranium within a durable crystalline lattice.
The community is most prominent in research tracked for thorium, where it represents 1.4% of all thorium papers, and neodymium, accounting for 1.1% of that element's research. It also holds a significant share of phosphorus research, comprising 0.2% of the total, with 680 papers in this specific group.
The community comprises 3,333 papers, published primarily in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Ceramics International, and the Journal of Nuclear Materials.
Recent work continues to refine the mechanical properties of alumina and mullite fiber composites for high-temperature use, while simultaneously developing new dual-phase ceramic waste forms to immobilize uranium and rare-earth radionuclides from spent nuclear fuel.