Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-c9gpj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-13T21:17:16.526Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Corrosion Model for Nuclear Waste Containers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

B. Sagar
Affiliation:
Basalt Waste Isolation Project, Rockwell Hanford Operations, P. 0. Box 800, Richland, WA 99352
Get access

Abstract

Theory of a mechanistic model for estimating the maximum rate of uniform corrosion for a steel or copper container in a saturated repository environment is described. Four oxidants that are considered are oxygen, sulfate, radiolysis products, and water. Rates of corrosion from oxygen and sulfate reduction are assumed limited by the rate of inward diffusion of the oxidant through the rock, packing, and corrosion product layers surrounding the container. Reduction of water is limited by kinetic processes as influenced by mass transfer of products and reactants, temperature, and pH. Substantial changes in the system resulting from the corrosion process are predicted to occur over time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1987

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

1. Marsh, G. P., Taylor, K. J., Bland, I. D., Westcott, C., and Tasker, P. W., “Evaluation of the Localized Corrosion of Carbon Steel Overpacks for Nuclear Waste Disposal in Granite Environments,” Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management, VII, edited by Werme, L. O., Matl. Res. Soc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 421428 (1985).Google Scholar
2. Shreir, L. L., Corrosion, Vol. I & II (Newnes-Butterworths, London, 1979).Google Scholar
3. Bockris, J. O'M. and Reddy, A. K. N., Modern Electrochemistry (Plenum Press, New York, New York, 1970).Google Scholar
4. Garrels, R. M. and Christ, C. L., Solutions, Minerals, and Equilibria (Freeman, Cooper & Company, San Francisco, California, 1965).Google Scholar
5. Electric Power Research Institute, Computer-Calculated Potential pH Diaqrams to 300°C, EPRI NP-3137, Palo Alto, California (1983).Google Scholar
6. Neretnieks, I., “Some Aspects on the Use of Iron Canisters for High-Level Waste,” Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management, VII,” edited by Werme, L. O., Matl. Res. Soc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 411420 (1985).Google Scholar
7. Ohmoto, H. and Rye, R. O., “Isotopes of Sulfur and Carbon,” Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits, 2nd ed., edited by Barnes, H. L. (John Wiley and Sons, New York, New York, 1979).Google Scholar
8. West, J. M., McKinley, I. G., Grogan, H., and Arme, S., “Laboratory and Modeling Studies of Microbial Activity in the Near Field of a HLW Repository,” in Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management, Vol. 50, edited by Werme, L. O., Matl. Res. Soc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1984.Google Scholar
9. Runchal, A. K., Sagar, B., Baca, R. G., and Kline, N. W., PORFLO--A Continuum Model for Fluid Flow, Heat Transfer, and Mass Transport in Porous Media, RHO-BW-CR-150 P, Rockwell Hanford Operations, Richland, Washington (1985).Google Scholar
10. Taylor, K. J., Bland, I. D., and Marsh, G. P., Corrosion Studies on Containment Materials for Vitrified High-Level Nuclear Waste, AERE-G2970, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Oxfordshire, England (1984).Google Scholar
11. Posey, F. A., Paldo, A. A., and Bacarella, A. L., Corrosivity of Geothermal Brines, Progress Report for Period Ending September 1977, ORNL/TM-6308, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee (1978).Google Scholar
12. Turnbull, A. and Gardner, M. K., “Electrochemical Polarization Studies of BS 4360 500 Steel in 3.5% NaCl,” Corrosion Science, 22(7), 661673 (1982).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Subramanyan, P. K., “Electrochemical Aspects of Hydrogen in Metals,” Electrochemical Materials Science, Vol. 4, in Comprehensive Treatise of Electrochemistry (Plenum Press, New York, New York, 1981).Google Scholar