Zirconolite Ceramic and Glass-Ceramic Wasteforms

Dear Colleagues,

As nuclear power continues to contribute significantly to the international energy portfolio, there remains a pressing need to develop advanced materials capable of facilitating the safe immobilisation, storage, and final disposal of highly radioactive nuclear waste streams. Several decades of continued wasteform development has identified a number of glass and ceramic compositions that could feasibly immobilise actinide-rich wastes, whilst conferring passive safety that is compatible with geological disposal. In particular, single-phase ceramic wasteform compositions are a feasible pathway towards the ultimate disposition of stockpiled actinides, such as Pu. One such phase, zirconolite (CaZrTi₂O₇) has attracted significant attention on the basis of high chemical durability, chemical flexibility, radiation stability and relative ease of processing.

Accordingly, this Special Issue of ‘Ceramics’ is focussed on the properties of zirconolite and related titanate/zirconate wasteform materials. The aim of this issue is to connect scientists around the globe with interests in the synthesis and processing optimisation; mechanical, thermal and electronic properties; and durability and radiation stability of zirconolite single/polyphase ceramics and glass-ceramic composites, alongside related wasteform materials. The guest editors kindly encourage submissions from researchers internationally to contribute original work, both experimental and theoretical, and review articles conveying recent advances.

Dr. Lewis R Blackburn
Prof. Dr. Michael I. Ojovan
Dr. Daniel Gregg
Guest Editors

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