Thermophysical properties of BaUO4

Polycrystalline specimens of barium uranate, BaUO4, were prepared and several properties such as the thermal expansion coefficient, elastic moduli, thermal conductivity, and Debye temperature were evaluated. The sintered specimens had a single-phase orthorhombic structure and were crack-free. The elastic moduli of BaUO4 were determined from the longitudinal and shear sound velocities and from micro-indentation tests. The Debye temperature was also determined from the sound velocities and lattice parameter measurements. The thermal conductivity of BaUO4 was calculated from the measured density at room temperature, literature values of heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity measured by the laser flash method in vacuum. The thermophysical properties of BaUO4 were examined and compared with literature data for other barium ternary oxides and SrUO4.