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Details of in situ sample retrievals and test completion for the Materials Interface Interactions Test (MIIT)

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6486096
 [1];  [2]
  1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)

The Materials Interface Interaction Tests (MIIT) program involves the comparative, performance-evaluation testing of multiple US and foreign nuclear waste glasses (nonradioactive), potential canister and overpack metals, brine, and geologic materials in the rock salt repository environment at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) facility. We emplaced about 2000 materials specimens onto 50 test assemblies and exposed them to a 90 [plus minus] 10[degree]C salt-brine environment. We successfully concluded the in situ conduct of the MIIT after five years and retrieved all samples for posttest laboratory analyses. These 5-year glass and metal samples, along with samples previously retrieved after 0.5, 1, and 2 years, are being analyzed in multiple international laboratories, in a cooperative testing effort. Our focus in this paper is to summarize technical details and repository-relevant observations on the in situ conduct, sampling, and termination operations of the MIIT. Such information should be useful for the interpretation of the laboratory-based analyses and also relevant for other organizations planning or conducting similar materials-related, in situ tests.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States); Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789; AC09-76SR00001
OSTI ID:
6486096
Report Number(s):
SAND-92-2660C; CONF-930438--11; ON: DE93012350
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English