A crucial element of the potential Yucca Mountain repository is to contain the radioactive waste and keep it dry within emplaced waste packages for a sufficient time so that the resultant annual dose for a reasonably exposed individual remains below the regulatory limit for at least 10,000 years. An extensive DOE-sponsored corrosion evaluation and modeling program has been underway for several years. Its objective is to provided a technical basis to support the expected long-term corrosion performance under a broad range of relevant as well as accelerated chloride-containing brine environments that include a range of temperatures and pH values. Link leads to abstract only. Full-text of the article can be purchased from NACE.

Citation: Gordon, G.M. "Corrosion Considerations Related to Permanent Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste." Corrosion Journal 58(10) October 2002: 811-825.

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