A comparison of the corrosion characteristics of synthetic monazite and borosilicate glass containing simulated nuclear defense waste
Abstract
The corrosion behavior of synthetic monazite and borosilicate glass in distilled water has been investigated by means of leachate conductivity measurements, ion-implanted marker techniques, solution analyses, and Rutherford backscattering depth profile analyses. Both nuclear waste form types were loaded with identical compositions and amounts of simulated Savannah River defense wastes. At 90 °C, the 28-day release rate of Cs, Sr, and U from synthetic monazite was more than 20 times lower for each element than the corresponding release rate from glass. Under the same test conditions the dissolution rate of the monazite matrix (La PO 4) was at least 1000 times lower than that of the borosilicate glass network. The effects of heavy particle radiation damage on the corrosion resistance of synthetic monazite and the temperature dependence of the corrosion rate are discussed. The present results indicate that at elevated temperatures (70-120 °C) the long-term corrosion resistance of synthetic monazite containing Savannah River defense wastes will be superior to that of borosilicate nuclear waste glass by several orders of magnitude.
- Publication:
-
Nuclear and Chemical Waste Management
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0191-815X(83)90053-0
- Bibcode:
- 1983NCWM....4..281S