Gamma irradiation effects on the thermal decomposition induction period in uranyl acetate

The effect of pre-irradiation with gamma-ray prior to thermal decomposition on the induction period of dehydrated uranyl acetate has been investigated. 171e results indicated that the induction period of the investigated salt is shortened by exposure to gamma-irradiation. Specifically, the induction period, I, is related to the radiation dose phi as I = C-1 - C(2)log phi, where C-1 and C-2 are constants. It is concluded that pre-exposure to ionizing radiation increases the number of nuclei that are active in salt breakdown in direct proportion to the gamma-dose to which the sample had previously been exposed, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.