Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T05:20:45.496Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Destruction of Micro-crystal Containing Wasteforms by Charge-induced Crystal Shape Change on Self-irradiation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2016

Michael I. Ojovan*
Affiliation:
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, Vienna, 1400, Austria
Boris E. Burakov
Affiliation:
V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2-nd Murinskiy ave., St. Petersburg, 194021Russia
William E. Lee
Affiliation:
Centre for Nuclear Engineering and Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London, U.K.
Get access

Abstract

Mechanical damage of non-metallic nuclear wasteforms can be caused by electrical fields induced by decaying clusters of radionuclides surrounded by an insulating matrix. We assess the electric fields near clusters with decaying radionuclides 244Cm, 241Am, 238,239Pu and 137Cs in a glass matrix determining that matrix destruction can gradually occur via electric breakdown discharges and diffusion-controlled change in form of clusters. The most important parameters that control potential matrix destruction are the radioactive cluster (inhomogeneity) size, radionuclide specific radioactivity and effective electrical conductivity of the matrix.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Burakov, B.E., Ojovan, M.I, Lee, W.E.. Crystalline Materials for Actinide Immobilisation, Imperial College Press, London (2010).Google Scholar
Burakov, B.E., Yagovkina, M.A., A study of accelerated radiation damage effects in PuO2 and gadolinia-stabilized cubic zirconia, Zr0.79Gd0.14Pu0.07O1.93, doped with 238Pu. J. Nucl. Mater., 467, 534536 (2016).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sobolev, I.A. et.al., Diffusional instability of solid surfaces. Phys. Chem. Mech. Surfaces, 3(12), 35293540 (1985).Google Scholar
Kachalov, M.B., Poluektov, P.P., Ozhovan, M.I.. Role of inhomogeneities in the fracturing of matrices with radioactive waste. At. Energ., 63, 782784 (1987).Google Scholar
Ojovan, M.I. and Poluektov, P.P.. Surface self-diffusion instability in electric fields. Mat. Res. Symp. Proc., 648, P.3.1.16. (2001).Google Scholar
Rose, P.B., Woodward, D.I., Ojovan, M.I., Hyatt, N.C., Lee, W.E.. Crystallisation of a simulated borosilicate high-level waste glass produced on a full-scale vitrification line. J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 357, 29893001 (2011).Google Scholar
Peuget, S., Delaye, J.-M., Jegou, C.. Specific outcomes of the research on the radiation stability of the French nuclear glass towards alpha decay accumulation. J. Nucl. Mater., 444 (1–3), 7691 (2014).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spasova, L.M., Ojovan, M.I., Scales, C.R.. Acoustic emission technique applied for monitoring and inspection of cementitious structures encapsulating aluminium. J. Acoustic Emission, 25, 5168 (2007).Google Scholar
Spasova, L.M., Ojovan, M.I.. Characterisation of Al corrosion and its impact on the mechanical performance of composite cement wasteforms by the acoustic emission technique. J. Nucl. Mater., 375, 347358 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spasova, L.M., Ojovan, M.I., Gibb, F.G.F.. Acoustic emission on melting/solidification of natural granite simulating very deep waste disposal. Nucl. Eng. Design, 248, 329339 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shah, J. G., Pannigrahi, B. K., David, C., Hyatt, N. C., R. Smith The Role of Glass Composition in Radiation Damage Behaviour of Borosilicate Glasses: In Pile Radiation and Ion Bombardment Studies. Proc. Joint ICTP-IAEA Workshop, Trieste, Italy, 12-16 September, 2016 (to be published as IAEA TECDOC in 2017).Google Scholar
Ojovan, M.I.. Surface effects of nuclear wasteforms. D.Sc. in Physical Chemistry Thesis. Moscow Scientific Research Institute of Physical Chemistry, Moscow (1994).Google Scholar