Materials and Corrosion Research in the Yucca Mountain Project

Abstract

There is a current nuclear energy renaissance around the world, mainly in Asia. However, after 60 years of using nuclear power, the issue of nuclear waste still needs to be solved. All the countries currently addressing the issue of nuclear wastes are considering disposing them in stable geologic formations. Most repositories designs in Europe are considering materials such as carbon steel and copper for the container. The US repository in Yucca Mountain is currently on hold waiting for new recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission. A robust corrosion and materials testing program was carried out over the last 20 years at universities and National Laboratories to support the Yucca Mountain Project. For example, the intensive corrosion and electrochemical research helped understanding of how the different variables affect the resistance of C-22 to localized corrosion. Even if the repository of Yucca Mountain is not materialized, the knowledge gained on the corrosion behavior of materials is permanent.