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An update on the copper corrosion program for the long‐term management of used nuclear fuel in Canada
Author(s) -
Keech Peter G.,
Behazin Mehran,
Binns W. Jeffrey,
Briggs Scott
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
materials and corrosion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.487
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1521-4176
pISSN - 0947-5117
DOI - 10.1002/maco.202011763
Subject(s) - corrosion , spent nuclear fuel , allowance (engineering) , radioactive waste , copper , environmental science , term (time) , mining engineering , waste management , geology , metallurgy , engineering , materials science , operations management , physics , quantum mechanics
In 2012, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization developed a comprehensive proof test plan (PTP) to evaluate the feasibility and safety of their copper‐coated used fuel container and their novel bentonite buffer box emplacement concept to be employed in its proposed deep geological repository for the long‐term management of used nuclear fuel. Research within the PTP includes several programs to evaluate the possible extent of damage that may be caused by various copper corrosion mechanisms: oxic‐, radiolytic‐, anoxic‐, and sulfide‐induced, with particular attention being paid to the possibility of localization of any of these processes. Programs remain on track to support and refine a maximum copper corrosion allowance of <1.27 mm over a one million year emplacement in a deep geological repository.