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The Hydrothermal Stability of Cement Sealing Materials in the Potential Yucca Mountain High Level Nuclear Waste Repository

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

J. L. Krumhansl ,
T. E. Hinkebein  and
J. Myers
J. L. Krumhansl
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM., 87185
T. E. Hinkebein
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM., 87185
J. Myers
Affiliation:
IT Corporation, 5301 Central Ave., NE, Suite 700, Albuquerque, NM, 87108
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Abstract

Cementitious materials, together with other materials, are being considered to seal a potential repository at Yucca Mountain. A concern with cementitious materials is the chemical and mineralogic changes that may occur as these materials age while in contact with local ground waters. A combined theoretical and experimental approach was taken to determine the ability to theoretically predict mineralogic changes. The cementitious material selected for study has a relatively low Ca:Si ratio approaching that of the mineral tobermorite. Samples were treated hydrothermally at 200°C with water similar to that obtained from the J-13 well on the Nevada Test Site. Post-test solutions were analyzed for pH as well as dissolved K, Na, Ca, Al, and Si. Solid phases formed during these experiments were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. These findings were compared with predictions made by the geochemical modeling code EQ3NR/EQ6. It was generally found that there was good agreement between predicted and experimental results.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 245: Symposium K – Advanced Cementitious Systems: Mechanisms and Properties , 1991 , 105
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

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References

REFERENCES

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