Chemical and mechanical performance properties for various final waste forms -- PSPI scoping study

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/383564· OSTI ID:383564

Farnsworth, R K; Larsen, E D; Sears, J W; Eddy, T L; Anderson, G L

The US DOE is obtaining data on the performance properties of the various final waste forms that may be chosen as primary treatment products for the alpha-contaminated low-level and transuranic waste at the INEL`s Transuranic Storage Area. This report collects and compares selected properties that are key indicators of mechanical and chemical durability for Portland cement concrete, concrete formed under elevated temperature and pressure, sulfur polymer cement, borosilicate glass, and various forms of alumino-silicate glass, including in situ vitrification glass and various compositions of iron-enriched basalt (IEB) and iron-enriched basalt IV (IEB4). Compressive strength and impact resistance properties were used as performance indicators in comparative evaluation of the mechanical durability of each waste form, while various leachability data were used in comparative evaluation of each waste form`s chemical durability. The vitrified waste forms were generally more durable than the non-vitrified waste forms, with the iron-enriched alumino-silicate glasses and glass/ceramics exhibiting the most favorable chemical and mechanical durabilities. It appears that the addition of zirconia and titania to IEB (forming IEB4) increases the leach resistance of the lanthanides. The large compositional ranges for IEB and IEB4 more easily accommodate the compositions of the waste stored at the INEL than does the composition of borosilicate glass. It appears, however, that the large potential variation in IEB and IEB4 compositions resulting from differing waste feed compositions can impact waste form durability. Further work is needed to determine the range of waste stream feed compositions and rates of waste form cooling that will result in acceptable and optimized IEB or IEB4 waste form performance. 43 refs.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• OSTI ID: 383564
• Report Number(s): INEL--94/0099; ON: DE96015248
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADDITIVES
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
BASALT
BOROSILICATE GLASS
CEMENTS
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
CONCRETES
CORROSION RESISTANCE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
IMPACT STRENGTH
LEACHING
LOADING RATE
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
SOLIDIFICATION
TITANIUM OXIDES
VITRIFICATION
WASTE FORMS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES