Open AccessInteraction of DOE SNF and Packaging Materials
Author(s) -
Paul A. Anderson
Publication year - 1998
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/5853
Subject(s) - embrittlement , materials science , ductility (earth science) , spent nuclear fuel , nuclear engineering , radioactive waste , fission , hydrogen embrittlement , waste management , metallurgy , corrosion , nuclear physics , engineering , neutron , creep , physics
A sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify and evaluate potential destructive interactions between the materials in US Department of Energy (USDOE) spent nuclear fuels (SNFs) and their storage/disposal canisters. The technical assessment was based on the thermodynamic properties as well as the chemical and physical characteristics of the materials expected inside the canisters. No chemical reactions were disclosed that could feasibly corrode stainless steel canisters to the point of failure. However, the possibility of embrittlement (loss of ductility) of the stainless steel through contact with liquid metal fission products or hydrogen inside the canisters cannot be dismissed. Higher-than-currently-permitted internal gas pressures must also be considered. These results, based on the assessment of two representative 90-year-cooled fuels that are stored at 200°C in stainless steel canisters with internal blankets of helium, may be applied to most of the fuels in the USDOE's SNF inventory