Hydrothermal reactivity of neutron absorber composites

The stability of neutron absorber composite materials at hydrothermal conditions was tested in a series of two-week experiments to mimic spent nuclear fuel disposal. Coupons, composed of boron carbide (B4C) sintered with and encased in aluminum, were increasingly altered in experiments at 150, 230,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of nuclear materials Vol. 531
Main Authors Sauer, Kirsten, Rock, Marlena, Caporuscio, Florie, Hardin, Ernest
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier 05.02.2020
Subjects
boehmite
dual-purpose canister
hydrothermal
MATERIALS SCIENCE
neutron absorber composite materials
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Summary:The stability of neutron absorber composite materials at hydrothermal conditions was tested in a series of two-week experiments to mimic spent nuclear fuel disposal. Coupons, composed of boron carbide (B4C) sintered with and encased in aluminum, were increasingly altered in experiments at 150, 230, and 300 °C and pressures of 150 bar. Alteration of aluminum to boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)) and hydrogen gas generation occurred over the range of investigated temperatures, but is most significant at 300 °C. We found that the formation of boron-bearing mineral phases was not detected; however, aqueous boron was present in the reaction fluids.
Bibliography:AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
SAND-2021-7953J; LA-UR-19-32409
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
ISSN:0022-3115
1873-4820