Materials Degradation Issues in the U.S. High-Level Nuclear Waste Repository

Mon, K.G. ; Hua, F.

United States. Department of Energy. Yucca Mountain Project Office.

关键词: 08 Hydrogen;    Corrosion;    Aging;    Alloys;    Fluorides;   

DOI  :  10.2172/840149
RP-ID  :  NONE
RP-ID  :  NONE
RP-ID  :  840149

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This paper reviews the state-of-the-art understanding of the degradation processes by the Yucca Mountain Project (YMP) with focus on interaction between the in-drift environmental conditions and long-term materials degradation of waste packages and drip shields within the repository system during the first 10,000-years after repository closure. This paper provides an overview of the degradation of the waste packages and drip shields in the repository after permanent closure of the facility. The degradation modes discussed in this paper include aging and phase instability, dry oxidation, general and localized corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and hydrogen induced cracking of Alloy 22 and titanium alloys. The effects of microbial activity and radiation on the degradation of Alloy 22 and titanium alloys are also discussed. Further, for titanium alloys, the effects of fluorides, bromides, and galvanic coupling to less noble metals are considered. It is concluded that the materials and design adopted will provide sufficient safety margins for at least 10,000-years after repository closure.