Corrosion testing of stainless steel-zirconium metal waste forms

Conference · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999

OSTI ID:20015850

Abraham, D P; Simpson, L J; Devries, M J; McDeavitt, S M

Stainless steel-zirconium (SS-Zr) alloys have been developed as waste forms for the disposal of metallic waste generated during the electrometallurgical treatment of spent nuclear fuel. The waste forms incorporate irradiated cladding hulls, components of the alloy fuel, noble metal fission products, and actinide elements. The baseline waste form is a stainless steel-15 wt% zirconium (SS-15Zr) alloy. This article presents microstructures and some of the corrosion studies being conducted on the waste form alloys. Electrochemical corrosion, immersion corrosion, and vapor hydration tests have been performed on various alloy compositions to evaluate corrosion behavior and resistance to selective leaching of simulated fission products. The SS-Zr waste forms immobilize and retain fission products very effectively and show potential for acceptance as high-level nuclear waste forms.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 20015850
• Resource Relation: Conference: 1998 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Boston, MA (US), 11/30/1998--12/04/1998; Other Information: Single article reprints are available from University Microfilms Inc., 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106; PBD: 1999; Related Information: In: Scientific basis for nuclear waste management XXII. Materials Research Society symposium proceedings: Volume 556, by Wronkiewicz, D.J.; Lee, J.H. [eds.], 1355 pages.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
STAINLESS STEELS
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
WASTE FORMS
CORROSION
MICROSTRUCTURE
MATERIALS TESTING
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SPENT FUELS
EBR-2 REACTOR