Thermodynamic model of natural, medieval and nuclear waste glass durability

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5439574

Jantzen, C M; Plodinec, M J

A thermodynamic model of glass durability based on hydration of structural units has been applied to natural glass, medieval window glasses, and glasses containing nuclear waste. The relative durability predicted from the calculated thermodynamics correlates directly with the experimentally observed release of structural silicon in the leaching solution in short-term laboratory tests. By choosing natural glasses and ancient glasses whose long-term performance is known, and which bracket the durability of waste glasses, the long-term stability of nuclear waste glasses can be interpolated among these materials. The current Savannah River defense waste glass formulation is as durable as natural basalt from the Hanford Reservation (10/sup 6/ years old). The thermodynamic hydration energy is shown to be related to the bond energetics of the glass. 69 references, 2 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 5439574
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-83-21; CONF-8308149-2; ON: DE84005195
• Resource Relation: Conference: Conference on glass in planetary and geological phenomena, Alfred, NY, USA, 14 Aug 1983; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BOROSILICATE GLASS
LEACHING
STABILITY
GLASS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
HYDRATION
SILICON
THERMODYNAMICS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVATION
360105* - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage