Thermal conductivity of neptunium dioxide

The thermal diffusivity of neptunium dioxide was measured in the temperature range from 473 to 1473 K by using a laser flash method. The thermal diffusivity slightly decreased with increasing temperature in the temperature range investigated. The heat capacity of NpO2 was measured in the temperature range from 334 to 1071 K by using a drop calorimetry method. The heat capacity of NpO2 determined in this study was slightly larger than that of UO2 and about 7% smaller than that of PuO2. The thermal conductivity of NpO2 was determined from the thermal diffusivity, the heat capacity and the bulk density. It was found that the thermal conductivity of NpO2 from 873 to 1473 K lay between those of UO2 and PuO2.