Preparation and Characterization of Zircon Ceramic Doped with Cerium

According to the conceptual model of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) geological disposal, first, HLW is carried out solidification treatment. Radioactive nuclide was simulated by Cerium (Ce), and Ce was solidified in the zirconite ceramic, solidified bodies of zircon ceramic with Ce were prepared by sol-gel method. In this paper, the basic principle and technological process of ceramic solidification is introduced. The samples were characterized and analyzed by XRD, SEM and EPMA, etc.. The results show that, the surface properties of ceramic tablet is better, and with high shrinkage after sintering, the lower compression force, the higher shrinkage of the ceramic tablet. Most of the diameter of Ceramic grains are in the range of 0.5-5 μm, existing some amorphous phase among the grains. Washing by ammonia, crystallization degree of sample is higher than without treatment, and can form crystals of (Zr,Ce) O2and (Zr, Ce) SiO4.