Zeta Potentials of ThO₂ and of Stainless Steel as Related to Aggregation and Caking

The streaming potential technique has been used to obtain the zeta potentials of ThO₂ in HCl, HI, HNO₃, and H₂SO₄ of various concentrations. The data are correlated with observed settling rates and tendency toward ThO₂ colloid formation. Streaming current measurements were made on type 304 stainless steel samples. Evidence is presented to demonstrate the significance of the zeta potentials of the ThO₂ and the stainless steel in the formation of thin films and thick cakes of ThO₂ on the stainless steel.