An experimental determination of the thermophysical properties of [NZP]-structure type ceramics

Abstract

Calcium and barium zirconium phosphates were prepared by hot isostatic pressing and their thermophysical properties investigated for potential use as actinide hosts for inert matrix fuels (IMF) in light water reactors. The materials are thermally stable up to at least 1600°C in air, however they degrade above around 1400°C in an inert atmosphere. The heat capacity and thermal conductivity were measured from room temperature up to 1200°C. The thermal conductivity coefficient for both CZP and BZP at 1000°C is 1.0 W m-1 K-1, a relatively low thermal conductivity that requires NZP-type materials to be dispersed in a composite cercer or cermet IMF. © Materials Research Society