Properties and structural features of iron sodium phosphate glasses containing neodymium oxide

Abstract

Properties and structural features of xNd2O3-(100-x)(20Fe2O3-60P2O5-20Na2O) (x = 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mol%) glasses have been investigated in detail by Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) respectively. The results show that the samples with x < 8 mol% are completely amorphous. Incorporation of Nd2O3 increases the Tg value and thermal stability of the iron sodium phosphate glasses containing less 8 mol% Nd2O3. The predominant network structural of the Nd2O3-doped iron sodium phosphate glasses is Q1 units. The content of Q1 and Q0 units increases and that of Q2 decreases with increasing neodymium content. The normalized leaching rates of Nd in Nd2O3-doped iron sodium phosphate glasses in 90 °C deionized water for 7 days are below 10−6 g m−2 d−1. The conclusions show that iron sodium phosphate glass is a potential host for the disposal of high-level nuclear wastes which are rich in trivalent radioactive oxide.