The Effect of γ-radiation on Mechanical Properties of Model UK Nuclear Waste Glasses

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe effect of γ-radiation on the mechanical properties of model UK intermediate and high level nuclear waste glasses was studied up to a dose of 8 MGy. It was determined that γ-irradiation up to this dose had no measurable effect upon the Young’s modulus, shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio, indentation hardness, or indentation fracture toughness. The absence of measurable radiation induced changes in mechanical properties was attributed to redox mediated healing of electron-hole pairs generated by γ-irradiation by multivalent transition metal ions, in particular the Fe3+ - Fe2+ couple.