Corrosion issues related to disposal of 316 SS–zirconium metal waste form under simulated repository conditions

Abstract

Metal waste form (MWF) alloy of D9 stainless steel with 8·5 wt-% zirconium was cast and evaluated for the corrosion behaviour. The microstructure, phase analysis, corrosion resistance and passive film properties of the alloy were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and electrochemical methods. The corrosion performance of MWF alloy was carried out in demineralised (DM) water at pH 1, 5 and 8 and also in simulated Kalpakkam and Rajasthan ground water systems. In X-ray diffraction analysis, the identified phases are mostly iron based solid solutions of γ-austenite, Zr–Fe type and Ni–Zr type intermetallics. The typical microstructure of MWF alloy showed the presence of solid solution and the intermetallics. The anodic polarisation results of MWF alloy in Rajasthan ground water and in DM water at pH 5 and 8 showed higher breakdown potential compared with DM water at pH 1 and in Kalpakkam ground water. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopic results of MWF alloy in different media showed the influence of ground water media. The surface morphology after passivation and polarisation revealed the possibility of different types of deposition and dissolution. The corrosion behaviour of MWF alloy in different simulated media and its relation to microstructure and surface morphology are discussed based on the results obtained in relevance with geological repository conditions.