Book Synopsis Effects of Alpha, Gamma, and Alpha-recoil Radiation on Borosilicate Glass Containing Savannah River Plant Defense High-level Nuclear Waste. [Lead Ions-250 KeV; Xenon Ions-160 KeV]. by :
Download or read book Effects of Alpha, Gamma, and Alpha-recoil Radiation on Borosilicate Glass Containing Savannah River Plant Defense High-level Nuclear Waste. [Lead Ions-250 KeV; Xenon Ions-160 KeV]. written by and published by . This book was released on 1981 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the Savannah River Plant, the reference process for the immobilization of defense high-level waste (DHLW) for geologic storage is vitrification into borosilicate glass. During geologic storage for 106 y, the glass would be exposed to approx. 3 x 101° rad of .beta. radiation, approx. 101° rad of .gamma. radiation, and 1018 particles/g glass for both .cap alpha. and .cap alpha.-recoil radiation. This paper discusses tests of the effect of these radiations on the leachability and density of the glass. Even though the doses were large, no effect of the radiations was detected that reduced the effectiveness of the glass for long-term storage of DHLW even at doses corresponding to 106 years storage for the actual glass. For the tests, glass containing simulated DHLW was prepared from frit of the reference composition. Three methods were used to irradiate the glass: external irradiations with beams of approx. 200 keV Xe or Pb ions, internal irradiations with Cm-244 doped glass, and external irradiations with Co-60 .gamma. rays. Results with both Xe and Pb ions indicate that a dose of 3 x 1013 ions/cm2 (simulating> 106 years storage) does not significantly increase the leachability of the glass in deionized water. Tests with Cm-244 doped glass show no increase in leach rate in water or brine up to a dose of 1018 .cap alpha. and .cap alpha.-recoils/g glass. Results of larger doses are being examined. The density of the Cm-244 doped glass has decreased by 1% at a dose of 1018 particles/g glass. With .gamma.-radiation, the density has changed by