Chemical and Mössbauer study of thermal neutron capture in magnesium stannate

Abstract

The chemical effects following thermal neutron capture in magnesium stannate have been investigated using chemical analysis and Mössbauer measurements. The chemical analysis indicate only the presence of radioactive stannate after irradiation at 30 or 100°C, whereas the Mössbauer data show the presence of different types of recoil products. The recoil products undergo a thermal annealing reaction between 150 and 500°C not involving Sn(II) recoil fragments, whereas thermal annealing above 500°C also transforms the Sn(II) recoil fragments to Sn(IV) fragments. Dilution of magnesium stannate with magnesium titanate has a marked effect on the formation of recoil products and on the thermal annealing reactions. Polymeric Sn(IV) recoil fragments are formed in the mixed crystals. These fragments can be detected by chemical analysis but not by the Mössbauer technique.