Corrosion of Waste Glasses in Boom Clay: Studies of Element Concentrations by Sims

Abstract

AbstractIn-situ corrosion tests on nuclear waste glasses in Boom clay provided direct contact glass-clay at 90°C, for periods of 2, 3.5 and 7.5 years. The corroded reference glasses (two R7T7 type glasses, four Pamela type glasses), were studied in terms of SIMS (secondary ion mass spectroscopy) and mass losses.The Al2O3 rich Pamela glasses appear to corrode in a selective-substitutional way, the other glasses dissolve almost congruently. Differences in the corrosion extent between the glasses are associated with compositional differences and secondary phase formation. SIMS analysis provides the reaction layer thickness and the relative element behaviour in this layer. Although relatively few, the data have provided a coherent picture of glass corrosion, in terms of corrosion mechanisms, time and glass composition dependence.