Enthalpy increments and enthalpies of formation of Cd 0.83Ni 0.17 and Cd 0.5Ni 0.5 intermetallic compounds

Abstract

Cadmium is expected to be the solvent for pyrochemical processing of the burnt metallic nuclear fuel. Therefore, thermodynamic properties of cadmium with various fuel and clad elements are of interest. In the present paper enthalpy increments and enthalpies of formation of the two intermetallic compounds of Cd–Ni system, Cd 0.83Ni 0.17 and Cd 0.5Ni 0.5, are presented. Enthalpy increment data was acquired in the temperature range 375.15–713.55 K and 375.55–810.25 K, respectively, using a high temperature Calvet calorimeter and the drop technique. The enthalpies of formation of the two compounds at 298.15 K, obtained by tin solution calorimetry, were −8.14 kJ/mol and −18.64 kJ/mol, respectively.