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The Development of Durable Cementitious Materials for Use in a Nuclear Fuel Waste Disposal Facility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

N. C. Burnett
Affiliation:
Ontario Hydro, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M8Z 5S4
R. D. Hooton
Affiliation:
Ontario Hydro, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M8Z 5S4
R. B. Heimann
Affiliation:
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada ROE ILO
M. Onofrei
Affiliation:
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada ROE ILO
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Abstract

This paper describes the work on cement paste development and short-term leaching tests in Standard Canadian Shield Saline Solution (SCSSS) in the presence of bentonite at 150°C. It has been found that:

-supplementary cementing materials such as silica fume or fly ash could significantly improve the properties of sulphate resistant portland cement (SRPC), in particular, permeability to water and pore size distribution.

-the addition of bentonite suppressed the normal tendency of the pH of groundwater to increase rapidly in the presence of cement.

-the presence of bentonite increased the release of potassium ions from the cements.

-– SRPC blended with 20% silica fume resulted in a groundwater pH lower than that of SRPC, with and without bentonite. Moreover, its cumulative fraction of release of potassium was significantly lower than that of SRPC.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1985

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