Direct Disposal of Dual Purpose Canisters – LANL – Boral Solubility (FY19)

Technical Report · Tue Jul 30 04:00:00 EDT 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1544664· OSTI ID:1544664

Caporuscio, Florie Andre ^[1]; Sauer, Kirsten Benedict ^[1]; Rock, Marlena Joyce ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Three baseline hydrothermal experiments were conducted with deionized water and Neutron Absorber Composite, a commercially product manufactured by 3M^TM (referred to by its former title, Boral®, in this report). Boral® is composed of boron carbide (B₄C) sintered with Al and encased with aluminum cladding. Hydrothermal experiments were conducted 150, 230, and 300 °C and 150 bar for two weeks. Changes in the physical properties and mineralogy of the Boral® coupons were characterized with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Compositions of reaction fluids were monitored during and after each experiment. Results indicate that alteration of aluminum cladding to boehmite (AlO(OH)) occurs over the range of investigated temperatures but is most significant at 300 °C. The formation of boehmite is accompanied with H₂ gas. The crystal structure of boron carbide (B₄C) appears to be unaltered by hydrothermal treatment; however aqueous boron was present in the reaction fluids.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1544664
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--19-27122
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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