Nuclear-waste encapsulation by metal-matrix casting

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6484284· OSTI ID:6484284

Nelson, R G; Nesbitt, J F; Slate, S C

Several encapsulation casting processes are described that were developed or used at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory to embed simulated high-level wastes of two different forms (glass marbles and ceramic pellets) in metal matrices. Preliminary evaluations of these casting processes and the products are presented. Demonstrations have shown that 5- to 10-mm-dia glass marbles can be encapsulated on an engineering scale with lead or lead alloys by gravity or vacuum processes. Marbles approx. 12 mm in dia were successfully encapsulated in a lead alloy on a production scale. Also, 4- to 9-mm-dia ceramic pellets in containers of various sizes were completely penetrated and the individual pellets encased with aluminum-12 wt % silicon alloy by vacuum processes. Indications are that of the casting processes tested, aluminum 12 wt % silicon alloy vacuum-cast around ceramic pellets had the highest degree of infiltration or coverage of pellet surfaces.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6484284
• Report Number(s): PNL-3750
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
CERAMICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELEMENTS
ENCAPSULATION
GLASS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LEAD
LEAD ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
METALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SILICON ALLOYS
SOLID WASTES
SOLIDIFICATION
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES