Durable Media for Long-Term Preservation of Geological Repository Records
- Radioactive Waste Management Funding and Research Center, Tokyo (Japan)
Durability of selected hard materials as information preserving media has been studied, leading to some promising results. Several engraving experiments on the selected materials confirmed that characters and patterns can be expressed along with shading and gradation. Engraving experiments on durable artificial materials were carried out by applying laser technologies. By selecting appropriate materials and engraving methods, characters and patterns can be expressed along with shading and gradation. These technologies can be applied to not only documentary records but also to markers and monuments. Among the materials, silicon carbide, which has strong resistance against heat wear and chemical impacts, corrosion resistance and wear resistance, showed satisfactory results in terms of accuracy. Thus, it is expected to be a promising material for the long-term record preservation. With respect to the density of characters in written records in the case of dot printing, it was estimated that, with 2-point characters, information totaling 6 to 8 pages of A-4 size can be engraved on a 10 cm x 10 cm plate. When a document that has 500 pages of A4 size paper is engraved on sintered silicon carbide plates, the total volume of recording media is evaluated as follows: - Size of plate: 10 cm x 10 cm; - Size of character to be engraved: 2-points ({approx} 0.7 mm; of readable size by naked eye or using a magnifying glass); - Number of pages of original document to be engraved on a plate: 8; - Number of pages of original document to be engraved on both sides of a plate: 16; - Number of plates needed for a series of document package: 500 / 16 = 32; - The thickness of a plate: 1 mm; - The total thickness of recording media: 32 mm; - Bulk of recording media preserving 500 pages of document: 10 cm x 10 cm x 32 cm. The examination has shown the possibility of long-term preservation of documentation records as a permanent system. A further examination is suggested concerning the assessment of the durability of the sintered silicon carbide plate against wear and chemical impacts. Preserving color pictures and photographs for a long-term duration is also proposed. In conclusion: We have proposed that the concept of a record preservation system is the combination of several different methods in order to impart redundancy to the communication function. The system should be robust that its overall function would not be influenced by partial damage, and also be flexible enough to adapt to the changes of background conditions in the future. Records and information should be preserved by way of both Relay System and Permanent System. The former would maintain record preservation and communication functions in the framework of social systems whereas the latter would consist of durable storehouse facilities, recording media and markers/monuments and be independent of any social systems and human control. Silicon carbide is one of the most promising materials for the Permanent System of Records Preservation. It is expected to be the potential candidate for long-term recording media with its superior characteristics of resistance against heat, wear and chemical impacts, and of engraving accuracy. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21326119
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-10-WM-08320; TRN: US10V0537067484
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WM'08: Waste Management Symposium 2008 - HLW, TRU, LLW/ILW, Mixed, Hazardous Wastes and Environmental Management - Phoenix Rising: Moving Forward in Waste Management, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 24-28 Feb 2008; Other Information: Country of input: France; 5 refs
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CORROSION RESISTANCE
DOCUMENTATION
INFORMATION
KNOWLEDGE PRESERVATION
PLATES
PRESERVATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SILICON CARBIDES