https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2015-02499-2
Regular Article
Recent analytical developments for powder characterization
1 CEA, DEN, DTEC, SGCS, LMAC, Marcoule, 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze, France
2 CEA, DEN, DEC, SA3C, Cadarache, 13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
3 ICSM UMR 5257 – CEA / CNRS / UM2 / ENSCM, 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze, France
Received: 29 November 2014
Revised: 21 May 2015
Published online: 30 July 2015
Powders and divided solid materials are widely represented as finished or intermediary products in industries as widely varied as foodstuffs, cosmetics, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronic transmission, and energy. Their optimal use requires a mastery of the transformation process based on knowledge of the different phenomena concerned (sintering, chemical reactivity, purity, etc.). Their modelling and understanding need a prior acquisition of sets of data and characteristics which are more or less challenging to obtain. The goal of this study is to present the use of different physico-chemical characterization techniques adapted to uranium-containing powders analyzed either in a raw state or after a specific preparation (ionic polishing). The new developments touched on concern dimensional characterization techniques for grains and pores by image analysis, chemical surface characterization and powder chemical reactivity characterization. The examples discussed are from fabrication process materials used in the nuclear fuel cycle.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2015
