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Modelling the Effects of Evolving Redox Conditions on the Corrosion of Copper Containers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

F. King
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Vhiteshell Laboratories, PinaWa, Manitoba, Canada R0E 1L0
D. M. LeNeveu
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Vhiteshell Laboratories, PinaWa, Manitoba, Canada R0E 1L0
D. J. Jobe
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Vhiteshell Laboratories, PinaWa, Manitoba, Canada R0E 1L0
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Abstract

The corrosive environment around the containers in a Canadian nuclear fuel waste disposal vault will change over time from “warm and oxidizing” to “cool and anoxic”. As the conditions change, so too will the corrosion behaviour of the containers. For copper containers, uniform corrosion and, possibly, pitting will occur during the initial aggressive phase, to be replaced by slow uniform corrosion during the long-term anoxic period.

The corrosion behaviour of copper has been studied over a range of conditions representing all phases in the evolution of the vault environment. The results of these studies are summarized and used to illustrate how a model can be developed to predict the corrosion behaviour and container lifetimes over long periods of time. Lifetimes in excess of 106 a are predicted for 25-mm-thick. copper containers under Canadian disposal conditions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1994

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References

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