Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nmvwc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-26T05:56:16.666Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Formulation, Testing, and Structural Characterization of High-Zirconium High-Level Waste Glasses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

David A. McKeown
Affiliation:
Vitreous State Laboratory, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Isabelle S. Muller
Affiliation:
Vitreous State Laboratory, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Andrew C. Buechele
Affiliation:
Vitreous State Laboratory, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Ian L. Pegg
Affiliation:
Vitreous State Laboratory, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Christopher A. Kendziora
Affiliation:
Condensed Matter Division, Code 6653, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
Charles R. Scales
Affiliation:
BNFL plc, Sellafield, United Kingdom
Get access

Abstract

A range of compositions of high-zirconia borosilicate glasses were formulated and their structures investigated by a combination of techniques. These compositions have potential applications for high-level nuclear waste storage in combination with advanced reprocessing methods. Raman and Zr EXAFS data were collected for a series of glasses spanning a range of zirconia concentrations. The Raman spectra indicate that Zr acts as a silicate network modifier, where the silicate tetrahedral network depolymerizes as the zirconia content increases. Zr EXAFS analysis indicates that Zr is found in octahedral sites, and to a minor extent, sevencoordinated sites. As the zirconia content increases, the fraction of seven-coordinated Zr-sites increases; this may be the cause of ZrO2 baddeleyite crystallization that was observed in some Zr-rich glasses investigated.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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

1. Matlack, K. S., Muller, I. S., Hojaji, H., Pegg, I. L., Ahearn, C., Scales, C. R., High Temperature Melter Tests for Vitrification of BNFL High-Level Nuclear Wastes, in Symposium QQ Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXII, Paper 9.55, Materials Research Society, Fall Meeting (1998).Google Scholar
2. Smith, D. K., Newkirk, H. W., Acta Cryst., 18, p. 983 (1965).Google Scholar
3. Robinson, K., Gibbs, G. V., Ribbe, P. H., Am. Mineral., 56, p. 783 (1971).Google Scholar
4. Ghose, S., Wan, C., Am. Mineral., 63, p. 304 (1978).Google Scholar
5. Raman, S. V., J. Mat. Res., 13, p. 8 (1998).Google Scholar
6. Bouldin, C. E., Forman, R. A., Bell, M. I., Rev. Sci. Instruments, 58, p. 1891 (1987).Google Scholar
7. Sayers, D. E., Bunker, B. A.: in X-ray Absorption Principles, Applications, Techniques of EXAFS, SEXAFS, and XANES, ed. Kroningsberger, D. C., Prins, R. (Wiley, New York, 1988), Ch. 6, p. 211.Google Scholar
8. Zabinsky, S. I., Rehr, J. J., Ankudinov, A., Albers, R. C., Eller, M. J., Phys. Rev. B, 52, p. 2995 (1995).Google Scholar
9. Newville, M., Ravel, B., Haskel, D., Stem, E. A., Yacoby, Y., Phyica B, 208–209, p. 154 (1995).Google Scholar
10. McKeown, D. A., Galeener, F. L., Brown, G. E. Jr., J. Non-Crystalline Solids, 68, p. 361 (1984).Google Scholar
11. Galeener, F. L., Sen, P. N., Phys. Rev., B 17, p. 1928 (1978).Google Scholar
12. Brawer, S. A., White, W. B., J. Non-Crystalline Solids, 23, p. 261 (1977).Google Scholar
13. Farges, F., Ponader, C. W., Brown, G. E. Jr., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 55, p. 1563 (1991).Google Scholar