Corrosion Behaviour of Some Gamma-Irradiated Phosphate Glasses for Radioactive Wastes Burial Applications

Abstract

Corrosion behaviour of some lead phosphate glasses containing varying contents of iron oxide was investigated. The grain method was used to estimate the weight loss of the studied glasses by the action of HCI, NaOH solutions, distilled water and underground water. The experimental results show variations of the corrosion behaviour with glass composition and with the leaching medium. The corrosion of the glass grains was investigated after subjecting the grains to varying doses of gamma irradiation. The infrared spectra were measured for the glass grains after immersion in the specified leaching solution to confirm the suggested corrosion mechanism in such glasses. However, the corrosion figures were generally very low which reveals that these glasses are quite resistant and can be considered as promising candidates for burial of radioactive wastes.

Keywords:

• Glass
• Lead iron phosphate
• Corrosion
• Gamma radiation
• Burial