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General Classification of “Hot“ Particles from the Nearest Chernobyl Contaminated Areas

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Abstract

The morphology and composition both chemical and radionuclide of the main types of the solid-phase “hot” particles formed following the accident on the Chernobyl NPP have been studied by SEM, electron microprobe and gamma-spectrometry methods. Differences in many isotopes including: 106Ru, 134Cs, 137Cs dependent upon the hot particle matrix chemical composition was observed. The classification of hot particles based upon the chemical composition of their matrices has been done. It includes three main types: 1) fuel particles with UOx matrix; 2) fuel-constructional particles with Zr-U-0 matrix, 3) hot particles with metallic inclusions of Fe-Cr-Ni. Moreover, there are more rare types of hot particles with silicate or metal matrices. It was shown that only metallic inclusions of Fe-Cr-Ni are concentrators of 106Ru, which caused this nuclides assimilation in the molten stainless steel during the initial stages of the accident. Soils contamination of non-radioactive lead oxide particles in the Chernobyl NPP region were noticed. It was supposed that part of metallic lead, dropped from helicopters into burning reactor during first days of accident, was evaporated and oxidized accompanying solid oxide particles formation.

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References

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Acknowledgement

Presentation of this paper and the participation of the authors in this symposium were financially supported by Material Research Society and International Science Foundation / Logovaz.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. V. G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2nd-Murinskiy Ave., Saint Petersburg, 194021, Russia

    S. I. Shabalev, B. E. Burakov & E. B. Anderson

Authors
  1. S. I. Shabalev
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  2. B. E. Burakov
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  3. E. B. Anderson
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Correspondence to S. I. Shabalev.

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Shabalev, S.I., Burakov, B.E. & Anderson, E.B. General Classification of “Hot“ Particles from the Nearest Chernobyl Contaminated Areas. MRS Online Proceedings Library 465, 1343–1350 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-465-1343

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-465-1343

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