Development of Nano-Modified Concrete for Next Generation of Storage Systems

Technical Report · Mon Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1469196· OSTI ID:1469196

Sanchez, Florence ^[1]; Kosson, David ^[1]; Brown, Kevin ^[1]; Delapp, Rossane ^[1]; Teising, Rich ^[1]; Gonzalez, Raquel ^[1]; Lewis, Janelle ^[1]; Brown, Lesa ^[1]; Reches, Yonathan ^[1]; Helbing, Marne ^[1]; Thomson, Kate ^[1]; Lacy, Myles ^[1]; Regala, Matthew ^[1]; Srivastava, Aditya ^[1]

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1. Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN (United States)

The goal of the research was to develop a superior concrete for the long-term storage of used nuclear fuel by engineering concrete at the nanoscale through the incorporation of nano-sized and nano-structured particles based on enhanced reactivity (not fiber reinforcement). The specific objectives were to determine for nano-modified concrete: 1. The effects of environmental weathering (i.e., wet/dry and ingress of reactive species such as chloride and sulfate from the marine environment or other sources) and exposure to radiation and thermal environments on the structural stability and microstructural evolution of the material; 2. How microstructural and morphological changes from environmental weathering and thermal and radiation damage affect the long-term, macroscale performance of the material; and, 3. Identify formulation envelopes for nanoparticle content and combinations to achieve superior concrete criteria for dry storage systems by integrating and extending existing predictive modeling approaches that couple reactive transport and thermo- chemo- and radiation induced damage. The major findings of this work are summarized as follows. The results are being processed and compiled in manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication. Due to the late access to the gamma irradiation facility, material characterization is continuing. Dispersion/agglomeration of nanoparticles in cement pastes. The dispersion/agglomeration of nanoparticles (NPs) of SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and clay (bentonite and halloysite) in water, with and without polycarboxylate-based high range water reducer (P-HRWR), and in the environment of hydrating cement have been investigated. The intrinsic particle characteristics, surface charge, pH, monovalent and divalent ion concentrations in solution, and modes of interaction of the NPs with P-HRWR influenced the NP behavior in solution.

• Research Organization: Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Nuclear Energy University Program; USDOE
• Contributing Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) - Nuclear Science User Facilities program (Dr. Kurt Terrani, Dr. Kory D Linton, Geoffrey G. Deichert, Aaron Selby) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Mechanical Properties & Mechanics Group, Materials Science & Technology Division (Dr. Edgar Lara-Curzio)
• DOE Contract Number: NE0000734
• OSTI ID: 1469196
• Report Number(s): DOE-Vanderbilt-DE-NE0000734; TRN: US1902830
• Resource Relation: Related Information: Y. Reches, K. Thomson, M. Helbing, D.S. Kosson, F. Sanchez.“Agglomeration and reactivity of nanoparticles of SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and clays in cement pastes and effects on compressive strength at ambient and elevated temperatures,” Construction and Building Materials, 167: 860-873, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.02.032.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
42 ENGINEERING
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
Nano‐modified concrete
nano-sized and nano-structured particles
gamma radiation
elevated temperatures
sulfate attack
water-induced leaching
dry cask storage system