Extensive Aging and Evaluation of Nonmetallic Components in the Waste Transfer System at Hanford - 18371

Conference · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2018

OSTI ID:22977680

Awwad, Amer; McDaniel, Dwayne; Rivera, Jose ^[1]

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1. Applied Research Center, Florida International University, 10555 West Flagler Street, Suite 2100, Miami, FL 33174 (United States)

Nonmetallic materials are used in the United States Department of Energy's Hanford Site Tank Farm waste transfer system. These materials include the inner primary hoses in the hose-in-hose transfer lines (HIHTLs), Garlock{sup R} gaskets, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) O-rings, and other nonmetallic materials. These nonmetallic materials are exposed to β and γ radiation, caustic solutions as well as high temperature and pressure stressors. How the nonmetallic components react to each of these stressors individually has been well established. However, simultaneous exposure of these stressors has not been evaluated and is of great concern to Hanford Site engineers. FIU-ARC engineers worked closely with key Hanford HLW personnel to develop an experimental test plan that determines how these nonmetallic components react to various simultaneous stressor exposures. In this paper, data obtained from experimental testing of the hose-in-hose transfer lines, Garlock{sup R} gaskets and EPDM O-rings used in the Hanford tank farm waste transfer system under simultaneous stressor exposures is presented. The stressor exposure experiments consisted of combinations of simultaneous stressor exposure of caustic solution and elevated temperature stressors. Evaluation of materials that have been conditioned with the various stressors for duration of 6-months was conducted and compared with baseline unexposed materials. Evaluations included burst pressure tests of the EPDM hose-in-hose transfer lines, leak pressure tests of the EPDM O-rings and Garlock{sup R} gaskets, material tensile strength test of EPDM and Garlock{sup R} coupons. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) was conducted on aged and un-aged baseline coupons to determine if there was any change in the surface microstructure and to see how far the NaOH penetrated analysis is continuing. Conclusions from the 6-month testing indicates that the specimens did not see a significant in the pressure tests, but the material properties of both the EPDM and Garlock{sup R} coupons did see changes. (authors)

• Research Organization: WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 27646, 85285-7646 Tempe, AZ (United States)
• OSTI ID: 22977680
• Report Number(s): INIS-US--20-WM-18371
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CONTAMINATION
ETHYLENE PROPYLENE DIENE POLYMERS
GASKETS
HANFORD ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY
HOSES
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TESTING
USA
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY