Abstract
The impact of alpha radiation on cements used to encapsulate intermediate-level waste (ILW) is not well understood. ILW wastes can contain high levels of alpha-emitting radionuclides, meaning that the grouts used to encapsulate them are exposed to significant ionising radiation. Thus, a damaged region could develop in the grout adjacent to the alpha-emitting species. This work attempted to recreate this behaviour through nonradioactive 4He2+ ion-accelerator experiments, which have not previously been applied to common encapsulation grouts. The influence of this irradiation on a slag-Portland cement was investigated at different ages via transmission electron microscopy energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDX) and supporting techniques, to assess whether 4He2+ irradiation caused textural or chemical zonation. No significant changes in hydrate phases or textures were observed, other than minor variations associated with carbonation. This paper provides a proof of concept for using ion acceleration techniques on cements and furthers knowledge on their radiation response.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 106895 |
| Journal | Cement and Concrete Research |
| Volume | 159 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2022 |
Funding
The authors wish to acknowledge the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which funded the research activity performed by the University of Sheffield via the Next Generation Nuclear Centre for Doctoral Training. This research was performed in part at the MIDAS Facility at the University of Sheffield, which was established with support from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change . Part of this work was supported by the US Department of Energy 's (DOE's) Office of Nuclear Energy under DOE Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-051D14517 as part of a Nuclear Science User Facilities experiment. Parts of this research were carried out at IBC at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf e. V., a member of the Helmholtz Association. We would like to thank Dr. Shavkat Akhmadaliev for assistance with, and for performing, the He 2+ irradiations. The authors wish to acknowledge the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which funded the research activity performed by the University of Sheffield via the Next Generation Nuclear Centre for Doctoral Training. This research was performed in part at the MIDAS Facility at the University of Sheffield, which was established with support from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change. Part of this work was supported by the US Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Nuclear Energy under DOE Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-051D14517 as part of a Nuclear Science User Facilities experiment. Parts of this research were carried out at IBC at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf e. V. a member of the Helmholtz Association. We would like to thank Dr. Shavkat Akhmadaliev for assistance with, and for performing, the He2+ irradiations.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden | |
| Nuclear Energy | |
| U.S. Department of Energy | DE-AC07-051D14517 |
| Department of Energy and Climate Change | |
| Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council | |
| University of Sheffield | |
| Helmholtz Association |
Keywords
- Alpha irradiation
- Blast furnace slag
- Ion accelerator
- Portland cement
- Transmission electron microscopy