Radiation Effects in Crystalline High-Level Nuclear Waste Solids

Abstract

Glass, cement, and crystalline-ceramic waste forms are being considered as potential solid forms for incorporation of nuclear wastes. The solidified waste will be subjected to high doses of many different radiations which may measurably alter physical properties and/or affect the durability of the solid waste form. As a result, the long-term stability of these waste forms is a subject of continuing research. The present paper defines the general radiation damage problem and summarizes experimental results from studies of the effects of alpha decay, alpha bombardment, and transmutations on crystalline waste forms, related single-phase compounds and some glass waste forms. The results lead to the following conclusions: both alpha-recoil damage in actinide host phases and alpha damage to all other phases must be considered since significant structural changes may occur from either source; the ingrowth of damage follows exponential behavior for both alpha-recoil damage and alpha damage, leading to saturation effects in most materials; and preliminary results show no significant effect of transmutations on waste form stability.