Corrosion of low-carbon cast steel in concentrated synthetic groundwater at 80 to 150C

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 15; no. 7; pp. 471 - 476
• Main Authors: Ahn, T M, Soo, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1995
• ISSN: 0956-053X

Corrosion testing was carried out on coupons of the ASTM A216-Grade WCA low-carbon steel for possible use as a container material in the proposed Yucca Mountain high-level waste depository. The major anions present in the concentrated synthetic groundwater were chloride, sulphate and carbonate/bicarbonate, and the cations were principally sodium, potassium and calcium. Tests were carried out in static autoclaves using initially air-saturated solutions under no-irradiation and gamma-irradiation conditions for a period of up to 4 months, and included hydrogen absorption tests. Uniform corrosion rates measured in a 4 month period, ranged from 10-14 um per year under gamma-irradiation conditions, although no effects due to irradiation were observed after this 4 month period. Pitting corrosion was detected, but the effect was small. A feature of the investigation was the large amount of hydrogen that was absorbed during corrosion under irradiation. In general, corrosion rates were low enough for the steel to be used for an extended period as a container material.