Special aspects of uranium oxide non-stoichiometry measurement by thermogravimetric analysis

Abstract Thermogravimetric analyses for determining uranium dioxide non-stoichiometry have been reviewed. Parameters of oxidation in air at various temperatures have been examined. The key parameters affecting accuracy of the obtained results have been evaluated. Oxidation parameters have been proposed, both for pure uranium dioxide as well as for uranium dioxide with added gadolinium oxide, which makes it possible to determine oxygen to metal (O/M) ratio with at least ±0.002 accuracy in weighed sample portions of approximately 3 g.