Laboratory testing of glasses for Lockheed Idaho Technology Company: Final report

Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/532497· OSTI ID:532497

Ellison, A J.G.; Buck, E C; Dietz, N L; Ebert, W L; Luo, J S; Wolf, S F; Bates, J K ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)

Tests have been conducted at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in support of the efforts of Lockheed Idaho Technology Company (LITCO) to vitrify high-level waste calcines. Tests were conducted with three classes of LITCO glass formulations: Formula 127 (fluorine-bearing), Formula 532 (fluorine-free), and 630 series (both single- and mixed-alkali) glasses. The test matrices included, as appropriate, the Product Consistency Test Method B (PCT-B), the Materials Characterization Center Test 1 (MCC-1), and the Argonne vapor hydration test (VHT). Test durations ranged from 7 to 183 d. In 7-d PCT-Bs, normalized mass losses of major glass-forming elements for the LITCO glasses are similar to, or lower than, normalized mass losses obtained for other domestic candidate waste glasses. Formula 532 glasses form zeolite alteration phases relatively early in their reaction with water. The formation of those phases increased the dissolution rate. In contrast, the Formula 127 glass is highly durable and forms alteration phases only after prolonged exposure to water in tests with very high surface area to volume ratios; these alteration phases have a relatively small effect on the rate of glass corrosion. No alteration phases formed within the maximum test duration of 183 d in PCT-Bs with the 630 series glasses. The corrosion behavior of the mixed-alkali 630 series glasses is similar to that of 630 series glasses containing sodium alone. In VHTs, both single- and mixed-alkali glasses form zeolite phases that increase the rate of glass reaction. The original 630 series glasses and those based on a revised surrogate calcine formulation react at the same rate in PCT-Bs and form the same major alteration phases in VHTs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States); Lockheed Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223; W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 532497
• Report Number(s): ANL--97/12; ON: DE97009402
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CORROSION
DISSOLUTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GLASS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MATERIALS TESTING
PHASE STUDIES
PROGRESS REPORT
WASTE FORMS