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Title: Evaluation of ceramic and polymeric materials for use in engineered barrier systems

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6608767

Ceramic materials evaluated in the screening studies were Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ (99.8%), mullite, vitreous silica, BaTiO/sub 3/, CaTiO/sub 3/, CaZrO/sub 3/, CaTiSiO/sub 5/, TiO/sub 2/, ZrSiO/sub 4/, basalt, Pyroceram 9617, and Marcor code 9658 machinable glass ceramic. One grade of graphite (Toyotanso IB-11) was also evaluated. Demineralized water, a synthetic Hanford groundwater, and a synthetic NaCl brine solution were used in the screening tests. Demineralized water was used in all five of the leach tests, but the other solutions were only used in the static leach tests at 150 and 250/sup 0/C. Based on the results obtained, graphite appears to be the most leach resistant of the materials tested with the two grades of alumina being the best of the ceramic materials. Titanium dioxide and ZrO/sub 2/ are the most leach resistant of the remaining materials. Candidate materials from all three general classes of polymers (thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers) were considered in the selection of materials. Selected groups of polymers were tested in the flowing autoclave at 150, 200, and 250/sup 0/C with some polymers being further tested at the next higher temperature. Next, selected samples were exposed to gamma radiation. These samples were then submitted for tensile and elongation measurements. Selected samples which appeared promising from both autoclave and radiation testing were further evaluated by impact tests. The materials that appeared most promising after autoclave testing were the EPDM rubbers, polyphenylene sulfide, poly(ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene) copolymer, and polyfurfuryl alcohol. The radiation dose had little effect on polyfurfuryl alcohol and polyphenylene sulfide samples; very significant decreases in elongation were observed for the fluorocarbon copolymer and the EPDM rubbers. While the polyphenylene sulfide and polyfurfuryl alcohol showed little change in impact strength, poly(ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene) decreased in impact strength.

Research Organization:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
6608767
Report Number(s):
PNL-SA-8672; CONF-801124-44; TRN: 81-006179
Resource Relation:
Conference: 3. annual meeting of the Materials Research Society, Boston, MA, USA, 17 Nov 1980
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English