Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
Induction melting by using a cold crucible is a suitable technology for theimmobilisation of ash residues after incineration of solid radioactivewaste. We investigated the possibility of using glass composites produced bystirring the ash into meltedglass. Glass composites containing 15 -40 wt. %of ash were obtained in both laboratory and bench scale units. Infraredspectroscopy, electronic paramagnetic resonance, X-ray diffractometry, TEMand SEM analyses were applied in order to characterise the structure of theglass composites obtained. The glass composites consisted of a relativelyhomogeneous glass matrix with embedded polycrystalline aggregates. Thefraction of aggregates increases when the fraction of ash rises. Theisothermal curing of composites at 1100 °C leads to dissolution of the ashcomponents into the melt as well as to their inclusion into the glassstructure, according to the analysis of the spectra obtained.