Cesium chloride compatibility testing program: Annual report for fiscal year 1986

Technical Report · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6529558· OSTI ID:6529558

Bryan, G H

A program was started to evaluate the compatibility of Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility (WESF)-produced cesium chloride (CsCl) with 316L stainless steel (SS) under thermal conditions that may be encountered in a geologic repository. Objective is compatibility testing of six standard WESF capsules at a max metal/CsCl interface temperature of approx.450/sup 0/C. Test capsule No. C-1351 was removed from its insulated container after being held at temperature for 28,268 h (3.2 y). The average max interface temperature for the 3.2-y capsule was 445/sup 0/C. Metal corrosion in the 3.2-y capsule was extensive throughout the capsule, except in the upper portion of the capsule where the interface temperature was below 400/sup 0/C. The maximum corrosion found was 460 ..mu..m (0.018 in.). Overall corrosion in the hotter portion of the 3.2-y capsule increased linearly with time. Intergranular attack was much more apparent in the tests of longer duration, while pitting and a general surface attack appeared to predominate in the shorter tests. In the area where the temperature was below 400/sup 0/C, the attack was greatly reduced. Results indicate that in the hotter portion of the capsule (where the metal/CsCl interface temperature is above 400/sup 0/C the corrosion is proceeding at a linear rate. If metal corrosion at the higher temperatures proceeds at a linear rate for an extended period of time, it has serious implications for the geologic disposal of the WESF CsCl capsules. Estimates of long-term metal attack in a geological repository are discussed.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6529558
• Report Number(s): PNL-6170; ON: DE87011232
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CESIUM CHLORIDES
COMPATIBILITY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
MATERIALS TESTING
STAINLESS STEEL-316L
CORROSION
CESIUM 137
ENCAPSULATION
HIGH TEMPERATURE
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALLOYS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM COMPOUNDS
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
TESTING
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
360105 - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion