Survey of degradation modes of candidate materials for high-level radioactive-waste disposal containers

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7079513· OSTI ID:7079513

Bullen, D B; Gdowski, G E ^[1]; Weiss, H ^[2]

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1. Science and Engineering Associates, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (USA)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)

Three copper-based alloys, CDA 102 (oxygen-free copper), CDA 613 (Cu-7Al), and CDA 715 (Cu-30Ni), are being considered along with three austenitic candidates as possible materials for fabrication of containers for disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The waste will include spent fuel assemblies from reactors as well as high-level reprocessing wastes in borosilicate glass and will be sent to the prospective repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, for disposal. The containers must maintain mechanical integrity for 50 yr after emplacement to allow for retrieval of waste during the preclosure phase of repository operation. Containment is required to be substantially complete for up to 300 to 1000 yr. During the early period, the containers will be exposed to high temperatures and high gamma radiation fields from the decay of high-level waste. The final closure joint will be critical to the integrity of the containers. This volume surveys the available data on the metallurgy of the copper-based candidate alloys and the welding techniques employed to join these materials. The focus of this volume is on the methods applicable to remote-handling procedures in a hot-cell environment with limited possibility of postweld heat treatment. The three copper-based candidates are ranked on the basis of the various closure techniques. On the basis of considerations regarding welding, the following ranking is proposed for the copper-based alloys: CDA 715 (best) > CDA 102 > CDA 613 (worst). 49 refs., 15 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/RW
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7079513
• Report Number(s): UCID-21362-Vol.8; ON: DE90006364
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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360102 -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
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ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM
CASKS
CONTAINERS
COPPER ALLOYS
COPPER BASE ALLOYS
DIAGRAMS
DUCTILE-BRITTLE TRANSITIONS
ELEMENTS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALLURGICAL EFFECTS
METALS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SOLIDIFICATION
SPENT FUEL CASKS
STORAGE
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THERMAL CYCLING
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES
WELDABILITY