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The Thermodynamics of Crystallization and Phase-Separation in Melt-Derived Nuclear Waste Forms

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1860338· OSTI ID:1860338
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [2];  [4];  [5];  [5]
  1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); University of Tennessee
  2. Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  4. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  5. Queen Mary Univ. of London (United Kingdom)
This project aimed to gain detailed and fundamental understanding of the stability of glass waste forms to be used for safe and reliable encapsulation of nuclear waste. The focus was to understand thermodynamic and structural properties involved in crystallization and phase separation in melt-derived waste form glasses and glass-ceramics by studying a baseline glass composition with varying additives. This was achieved by combining neutron total scattering, advanced calorimetric measurements, and extensive modeling study. This project harnessed diverse and complementary approaches and expertise from four collaborating interdisciplinary institutions (two universities, one national laboratory, and one UK university partner). Samples were prepared at the national laboratory and exchanged with the two university institutions. The thermodynamic data obtained by various advanced calorimetry techniques were linked to the underlying short-range structure of waste forms measured by state-of-the-art neutron total scattering experiments. An important element of this project was extensive modeling to interpret and fundamentally understand the experimental results.
Research Organization:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
DOE Contract Number:
NE0008694
OSTI ID:
1860338
Report Number(s):
NU-17-TN-UTK_-020203-03
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English