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Alkoxide Derived Amorphous Solids as an Alternate Nuclear Waste Popm

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

J. M. Pope
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Research and Development Center, 1310 Beulah Road Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15235
D. E. Harrison
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Research and Development Center, 1310 Beulah Road Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15235
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Nitric acid waste can be immobilized in an amorphous aluminosilicate matrix that is produced by polymerization of metal alkoxides [1]. Unlike vitreous aluminosilicate host matrices obtained by melting, neither alkalies, alkaline earths, nor borates are required since no melting is involved. Instead, the alkoxide glass formers and radionuclides react directly to form a randomly cross-linked structure of silica and alumina polyhedra. Structurally, the amorphous product formed through chemical polymerization is similar to a true glass except that it has not experienced melting. As a result, neither a glass transition temperature nor a specific volume temperature dependence would be expected in such an amorphous material. As a chemically durable waste form, the "gel-glass" product should be substantially better than ordinary waste glass because it can be made without the addition of either alkalies or boron.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1982

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References

REFERENCES

1. Pope, J. M. and Harrison, D. E., “Nuclear Waste Immobilization in Alkoxide Derived Polymer Glass,” Proceedings of the Symposium on Waste Management, Waste Management 81, Edited by Post, R. G., ANS Topical Meeting, Tucson, Arizona, February 23–26, 1981.Google Scholar
2. Mendel, J. E., et al. , Materials Characterization Center Draft of Standardized Leach Test Methods, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, 1981.Google Scholar
3. Kelley, J. A. and Wallace, R. M., “Procedure for Determining Leachabilities of Radioactive Waste Forms,” Nucl. Tech. 30 (1976) 4751.Google Scholar
4. Pope, J. M. and Harrison, D. E., “Alkoxide Derived Vitreous Waste Forms,” Proceedings of the Symposium on High Temperature Materials Chemistry, Sponsored by the Electrochemical Society, Denver, Colorado, October 12–16, 1981.Google Scholar