In the frame of the internship in the Fuel Materials Expert (FMA) Group of SCK CEN, the Master student will have the opportunity to contribute to the OPTIMUS-PRO project.
This project is about the study of the production of 237Np targets for its future neutron irradiation, in view of producing 238Pu, a radioisotope that will be used to power deep space exploration probes and/or planetary exploration rovers.
Using the Higher Actinide Laboratory, hosting chemical glove-boxes and a chain of inert atmosphere glove-boxes, the Master student will be involved in all the steps of the production study of a target. This specifically consists of raw material characterization & dissolution, liquid-to-solid oxalate conversion studies, pelletization process (powder blending & milling, granulation, pressing) and sintering.
In order to complete this study, the Master student will have access to numerous & diverse characterization & production devices/techniques, all hosted in glove-boxes:
- UV-Vis-nIR measurement technique,
- Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with a mass spectrometer,
- BET surface area analyzer,
- powder X-ray diffraction,
- calcination & sintering furnaces,
- electromechanical press
- Scanning Electron Microscopy.
A student with previous hands-on experience in glove-boxes is required.
The minimum diploma level of the candidate needs to be
- Academic bachelor
The candidate needs to have a background in
- Chemistry