 |
Faculty
and Student Teams Program
|
Project Descriptions
Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory
Advanced Processing and Applications Group
Requesting applications from science or engineering faculty members
at institutions serving students underrepresented in science, engineering,
mathematics and technology.
Project Description
There are two projects on which the team(s) can work: 1) Phase Identification
and Characterization in Chlorophosphate Waste Forms and 2) High-level
Waste Glass Vitrification.
In the first of these projects, the team will use x-ray diffraction,
differential thermal analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, mass spectroscopy,
and leach testing to identify and characterize materials that are candidates
for special waste forms. The starting materials will be metal oxides/hydroxides
that precipitate and become waste products from a process used to purify
plutonium. In this study, no radioactive substances will be used; only
inactive surrogates. These oxides/hydroxides contain substantial quantities
of chloride salts. These mixtures are heated with a phosphate-containing
materials to produce a ceramic material that serves as the waste form.
In the second project, two main topics will be studied: solid state
reactions and property-composition relationships, both for multicomponent
solid and molten mixtures, such as glass, glass-ceramics, and their batches.
Thermoanalytical techniques will be used for solid-state reactions, those
listed above plus others, such as differential scanning calorimetry,
scanning electron microscopy, and evolved gas analysis with gas chromatograph
and mass spectrometer. Based on the data, kinetic equations will be formulated
for heterogeneous reactions and constitutive equations will be developed
to characterize materials for mathematical models of processing technologies. Applicants Responsibilities and Relationship to Project
Applicants will receive support under the Department of Energy Faculty
Student Team Research Program (FaST) to work collaboratively with the
project research team at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for
up to 10 weeks during the year starting in June of 2006. Summer and academic
year visits to Pacific Northwest will be scheduled by mutual agreement
between the Advanced Processing and Applications Group and the successful
applicant. Ideally faculty will work at Pacific Northwest on the project
for 10 weeks during the summer in the first year. Faculty will be expected
to identify students from their campus to participate in the Undergraduate
Research Participation programs offered by the Department of Energy at
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Ideally Faculty will provide mentorship
and/or advising support to students during the summer research activities.
It is expected that the Faculty member will become an integral part of
the research team working on this project and will support the project
through the academic year on her or his campus.
Qualifications of Ideal Candidate
| Faculty: |
MS or PhD Degree in Chemistry, Materials Science. Currently teaching
Chemistry or Materials Science |
| Student: |
Working towards a BS or BA in Chemistry or Materials Science. Works
well in collaboration with faculty, other students, and researchers.
Willing to work at PNNL for ten weeks in Summer 2006. |
Support and Financial Commitments
See Financial Information.
For More Information contact:
|
