Iron phosphate glasses as a potential nuclear waste disposal medium

Author

Melissa G. Mesko

Abstract

”Phosphate glasses containing large amounts of Fe₂O₃ (up to 43wt%) were studied to determine their potential suitability as nuclear waste disposal glasses for high level radioactive wastes containing large concentrations of iron oxide, phosphate, and fluoride compounds. Glass formation and chemical durability was the prime focus of this study, while properties such as density, thermal expansion, dilatometric softening temperature, and devitrification temperature were examined as well. It was found that large amounts of simulated nuclear waste material (up to 44.4wt% Cs₂O or 37.5wt% SrO) could be incorporated into the base iron phosphate glass while retaining a low melting temperature (< 1200⁰C) and time (~1 hour). Although physical properties measurements show that very little fluorine is actually present in the resulting glass, the FCs(F) and FSr(F) glasses melted at lower temperatures (~1000°C) and appeared more fluid at the melting temperature than the glasses batched containing no fluorine. The bulk chemical durability of the oxide and fluoride glasses were measured in pH~2 HCl, pH~7 distilled water, and pH~2 NH₄OH at 90°C for up to 16 days. The majority of these glasses had dissolution rates equivalent to, or better than that of window glass over this pFl range and the addition of fluorine to the glass did not seem to affect the chemical durability. The excellent chemical durability of these glasses was shown to be retained even after the glass was crystallized at 650°C for > 24 hours”--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Day, D. E.

Committee Member(s)

Mattox, Douglas M.
Switzer, Jay A., 1950-
Reidmeyer, Mary R.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Ceramic Engineering

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Spring 1995

Pagination

xii, 82 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 37-40).

Rights

© 1995 Melissa Gay Mesko, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 6952

Print OCLC #

32829810

Recommended Citation

Mesko, Melissa G., "Iron phosphate glasses as a potential nuclear waste disposal medium" (1995). Masters Theses. 1434.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/1434