Hybrid Sol–Gel and Spark Plasma Sintering to Produce Perovskite-like SrTiO3 Ceramics for Radioactive Waste Isolation

Abstract

The paper presents a reliable technology combining sol–gel synthesis and spark plasma sintering (SPS) to obtain SrTiO3 perovskite-type ceramics with excellent physicomechanical properties and hydrolytic stability for the long-term retention of radioactive strontium radionuclides. The Pechini sol–gel method was used to synthesize SrTiO3 powder from Sr(NO3)2 and TiCl3 (15%) precursors. Ceramic matrix samples were fabricated by SPS in the temperature range of 900–1200 °C. The perovskite structure of the synthesized initial SrTiO3 powder was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis results. Scanning electron microscopy revealed agglomeration of the nanoparticles and a pronounced tendency for densification in the sintered compact with increasing sintering temperature. Chemical homogeneity of ceramics was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Physicochemical characteristic studies included density measurement results (3.11–4.80 g·cm−3), dilatometric dependencies, Vickers microhardness (20–900 HV), and hydrolytic stability (10−6–10−7 g·cm−2·day−2), exceeding GOST R 50926-96 and ISO 6961:1982 requirements for solid-state matrices. Ceramic sintered at 1200 °C demonstrated the lowest strontium leaching rate of 10−7 g/cm2·day, optimal for radioactive waste (RAW) isolation. The proposed approach can be used to fabricate mineral-like forms suitable for RAW handling.