Ceramic host phases for nuclear waste remediation

Abstract

This chapter gives a summary of the various types of ceramic nuclear waste forms that have been developed, to various levels, either as alternatives to borosilicate glass for high-level waste (HLW) or as special-purpose materials for separated HLW or legacy wastes. These materials have been designed with a number of criteria in mind, such as compatibility with geological environments, high durability in aqueous fluids, and resistance to changes in properties due to radiation damage, and high waste loadings. In nuclear systems, the main sources of radiation damage include neutrons and alpha, beta, and gamma radiation emitted from radioactive elements. A series of molecular dynamics (MD) studies of the fundamental properties of rutile in relation to radiation tolerance have been reported. Although rutile is normally used as an inert component in nuclear waste forms, it has the capacity to serve as a host phase for radionuclides under the appropriate conditions. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.