Effect of metal powders on γ-ray-induced decomposition of 2KNO3·La(NO3)3·2H2O

It is a well-known fact that metals remain unaffected by electromagnetic radiation in general. However, they may be influenced to some extent by the formation of certain microstructural changes because of γ -radiation. The experimental data showed that γ -radiolysis of double nitrate was influenced by the presence of metal powders in the admixture. The decomposition of the double nitrate exhibits linear correlation with the first ionization potential of the metals (r=0.9787) at 25 mol%. However, at higher concentrations of 50 and 75 mol% metal powders, poor correlation is observed, especially for Sn, Fe and W, which all show variable oxidation states, unlike Al and Zn, which exhibit stable oxidation states of+3 and+2, respectively.