PROCESS FOR TREATMENT OF A CONTROL ROD CONTAINING BORE CARBIDE CONTAMINATED WITH SODIUM

摘要

Disclosed is a method for treating an absorber pin, wherein the pin comprises a cladding in which a sintered boron carbide-based material having cracks is located, the material having porosity less than 1% of the volume of the material, the cracks containing sodium and at least one radioactive material. The method includes contacting the material with a treatment reaction mixture including carbon dioxide and water, in such a manner that the production of sodium carbonate and the expansion thereof cause the opening of cracks and of the sheath from at least one slit provided in the sheath as well as the propagation of the treatment process within the material. The process overcomes the physical-chemical properties of a sintered boron carbide-based material as much as possible. These properties prevent an easy treatment of the sodium and radioactive material contained in the cracks of the material.