Study of cesium diffusion in borosilicate glass by heavy ion Rutherford backscattering spectrometry

Diffusion of cesium in borosilicate glass has been studied by heavy ion Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (HIRBS) technique using 30 MeV 19F beam. Analysis of glass samples annealed at different temperatures for 12 h duration has been used to determine the activation energy of diffusion of cesium in borosilicate glass, which is considered as one of the suitable matrices for vitrification of the high level radioactive waste. Diffusion coefficients show Arrhenius behaviour in the temperature range 473-673 K. The activation energy for diffusion is found to be 22.2 ± 3.6 kJ/mol.