Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Corrosion Considerations Related to Carbon Steel Radioactive Waste Packages Exposed to Cementitious Materials

  • Published:
MRS Advances Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Supercontainer is the reference concept for the post-conditioning of vitrified high-level radioactive waste and spent fuel in Belgium. It consists of a prefabricated concrete buffer that completely surrounds a carbon steel overpack. In this highly alkaline environment (pH ~ 13.6) and under normal conditions (i.e. without the ingress of aggressive species), the carbon steel overpack will be protected by a passive oxide film, which is believed to result in very low uniform corrosion rates.

This paper gives an overview of the status of the uniform corrosion, pitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking behaviour of carbon steel expected during the waste disposal period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. B. Kursten, and F. Druyts, Corrosion Engineering, Science and Technology 46, 91 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. K. Tuuti, “Corrosion of steel in concrete”, report no. 4–82 (Swedish Cement and Concrete Research Institute, 1982).

  3. C.L. Page, and K.W.J. Treadaway, Nature 297, 109 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. L. Bertolini, B. Elsener, P. Pedeferri, and R. Polder, “Corrosion of steel in concrete: prevention, diagnosis, repair” (Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co., 2004).

  5. U. Angst, B. Elsener, C.K. Larsen, and Ø. Vennesland, Cement and Concrete Research 39, 1122 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Soltis, Corrosion Science 90, 5 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. N.R. Smart, A.P. Rance, P.A.H. Fennell, and B. Kursten, EPJ Web of Conferences 56, paper no. 06003, 9 pages (2013).

  8. N.R. Smart, A.P. Rance, P.A.H. Fennell, and B. Kursten, Corrosion Engineering, Science and Technology 49, 473 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. S. Sharifi-Asl, F. Mao, B. Kursten, and D.D. Macdonald, Corrosion Science 98, 708 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SCK•CEN, The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, R&D Waste Packages Unit, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium

    Bruno Kursten & Frank Druyts

  2. Amec Foster Wheeler, Clean Energy, Building 150, Harwell Oxford, OX11 0QB, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK

    Nick R. Smart

  3. Department of Materials, Science and Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 94720, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Digby D. Macdonald

  4. ONDRAF/NIRAS, The Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials, Avenue des Arts 14, 1210, Brussels, Belgium

    Robert Gens

Authors
  1. Bruno Kursten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frank Druyts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nick R. Smart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Digby D. Macdonald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Robert Gens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kursten, B., Druyts, F., Smart, N.R. et al. Corrosion Considerations Related to Carbon Steel Radioactive Waste Packages Exposed to Cementitious Materials. MRS Advances 1, 4193–4199 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2017.208

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2017.208

Search

Navigation