Evaluating radiation-induced corrosion depths in copper canisters of varying thicknesses for KAERI reference disposal system
Source abstract
Abstract
This study presents a model for evaluating radiation-induced corrosion in copper canisters designed for deep geological repositories. The model is validated using reported concentrations of radiolysis products and measured corrosion depths of Cu specimens. Results show that pH and bentonite porosity strongly influence corrosion depth, whereas trapped oxygen within the bentonite has a minor effect. Corrosion depths range from 10.26 ± 0.89% to 0.12 ± 0.01% for Cu wall thicknesses between 3 and 50 mm. These findings suggest that optimizing copper could maintain canister integrity while improving repository design efficiency.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Graphite, nuclear technology, radiation studies · Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metals · Fusion materials and technologies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (36)
Show source-provided references
1. Björkbacka, Å, Hosseinpour, S., Johnson, M., Leygraf, C. & Jonsson, M. Radiation induced corrosion of copper for spent nuclear fuel storage. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 92, 80–86 (2013).10.1016/j.radphyschem.2013.06.033 ↗
2. Björkbacka, Å, Yang, M., Gasparrini, C., Leygraf, C. & Jonsson, M. Kinetics and mechanisms of reactions between H2O2 and copper and copper oxides. Dalton Trans. 44, 16045–16051 (2015).10.1039/C5DT02024G ↗
3. Björkbacka, Å, Johnson, C. M., Leygraf, C. & Jonsson, M. Role of the oxide layer in radiation-induced corrosion of copper in anoxic water. J. Phys. Chem. C 120, 11450–11455 (2016).10.1021/acs.jpcc.6b00269 ↗
4. Bessho, K. et al. Corrosion of copper in water and colloid formation under intense radiation field. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 303, 1117–1121 (2015).10.1007/s10967-014-3464-8 ↗
5. King, F. & Kolar, M. Corrosion of Copper Containers Prior to Saturation of a Nuclear Fuel Waste Disposal Vault AECL-11718 (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, 1997).
6. Kass, J. Evaluation of copper, aluminum bronze, and copper-nickel container material for the Yucca Mountain project. In Proc. of a Workshop on Corrosion of Nuclear Fuel Waste Containers, Winnipeg, MB, Canada (1990).
7. Björkbacka, A., Hosseinpour, S., Leygraf, C. & Jonsson, M. Radiation induced corrosion of copper in anoxic aqueous solution. Electrochem. Solid-State Lett. 15, C5 (2012).10.1149/2.022205esl ↗
8. Glass, R. S., Van Konynenberg, R. A. & Overturf, G. E. Corrosion processes of austenitic stainless steels and copper-based materials in gamma-irradiated aqueous environments. In Proc. of the Technical Symposium of Corrosion '86, Houston, TX, United States (1986).
9. Yunker, W. H. & Glass, R. S. Long-term corrosion behavior of copper-base materials in a gamma-irradiated environment. MRS Proc. 84, 579 (1986).10.1557/PROC-84-579 ↗
10. Soroka, I., Chae, N. & Jonsson, M. On the mechanism of γ-radiation-induced corrosion of copper in water. Corros. Sci. 182, 109279 (2021).10.1016/j.corsci.2021.109279 ↗
11. Jonsson, M. Exploring the impact of groundwater constituents and irradiation conditions on radiation-induced corrosion of copper. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 211, 111048 (2023).10.1016/j.radphyschem.2023.111048 ↗
12. Joseph, J. M., Seon Choi, B., Yakabuskie, P. & Clara Wren, J. A combined experimental and model analysis on the effect of pH and O2(aq) on γ-radiolytically produced H2 and H2O2. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 77, 1009–1020 (2008).10.1016/j.radphyschem.2008.06.001 ↗
13. Chae, N., Seo, S. & Kim, J.-S. Evaluation of gamma radiation-induced corrosion depth of Cu canister in high-efficiency deep geological repository system for CANDU spent nuclear fuel. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 239, 113267 (2026).10.1016/j.radphyschem.2025.113267 ↗
14. Tullborg, E.-L. et al. SR-Site-Sulphide Content in the Groundwater at Forsmark (2010).
15. Cramer, J. J. & Smellie, J. A. T. Final Report of the AECL/SKB Cigar Lake Analog Study (1994).
16. Posiva, O. Olkiluoto Site Description 2011 (2012).
17. Chae, N., Seo, S., Foster, R. I. & Choi, S. Oxic corrosion model for KAERI Reference disposal system via O2 consumption reactions and mixed-potential theory. npj Mater. Degrad. 8, 80 (2024).10.1038/s41529-024-00497-z ↗
18. Chae, N., Park, S. & Choi, S. Cross-verified measurement of sulfide concentration in anaerobic conditions using spectroscopic, electrochemical, and mass spectrometric methods. J. Nucl. Fuel Cycle Waste Technol. 21, 43–53 (2023).10.7733/jnfcwt.2023.010 ↗
19. Chen, K. Y. & Morris, J. C. Kinetics of oxidation of aqueous sulfide by oxygen. Environ. Sci. Technol. 6, 529–537 (1972).10.1021/es60065a008 ↗
20. Hoffmann, M. R. Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of hydrogen sulfide by hydrogen peroxide in acidic solution. Environ. Sci. Technol. 11, 61–66 (1977).10.1021/es60124a004 ↗
21. Wilmot, P. D., Cadee, K., Katinic, J. J. & Kavanagh, B. V. Kinetics of sulfide oxidation by dissolved oxygen. J. (Water Pollut. Control Fed.) 60, 1264–1270 (1988).
22. Luther, G. W. et al. Thermodynamics and kinetics of sulfide oxidation by oxygen: a look at inorganically controlled reactions and biologically mediated processes in the environment. Front. Microbiol. 2, 1–9 (2011).10.3389/fmicb.2011.00062 ↗
23. Giroud, N. et al. On the fate of oxygen in a spent fuel emplacement drift in opalinus clay. Appl. Geochem. 97, 270–278 (2018).10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.08.011 ↗
24. Chae, N. et al. Coupled mixed-potential and thermal-hydraulics model for long-term corrosion of copper canisters in deep geological repository. npj Mater. Degrad. 7, 26 (2023).10.1038/s41529-023-00345-6 ↗
25. Chae, N. et al. Elucidating gamma-ray induced effects at the copper-water interface for permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuels. J. Nucl. Mater 615, 155993 (2025).10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155993 ↗
26. Jonsson, M. Radiation-induced processes at solid–liquid interfaces. In (eds Wishart, J. F. & Rao, BSM.) Recent Trends in Radiation Chemistry 301–323 (World Scientific, 2010).
27. Lee, C., Cho, W.-J., Lee, J. & Kim, G. Y. Numerical analysis of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behavior at Korean Reference Disposal System (KRS) using TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D simulator. J. Nucl. Fuel Cycle Waste Technol. 17, 183–202 (2019).10.7733/jnfcwt.2019.17.2.183 ↗
28. Permann, C. J. et al. MOOSE: enabling massively parallel multiphysics simulation. SoftwareX 11, 100430 (2020).10.1016/j.softx.2020.100430 ↗
29. Elliot, A. J. Rate Constants and G-Values for the Simulation of the Radiolysis of Light Water Over the Range 0–300 °C. AECL-11073 (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, 1994).
30. Buxton, G. V., Greenstock, C. L., Helman, W. P. & Ross, A. B. Critical review of rate constants for reactions of hydrated electrons, hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH/⋅O−) in aqueous solution. J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 17, 513–886 (1988).10.1063/1.555805 ↗
31. Lee, J., Kim, I., Ju, H., Choi, H. & Cho, D. Proposal of an improved concept design for the deep geological disposal system of spent nuclear fuel in Korea. J. Nucl. Fuel Cycle Waste Technol. 18, 1–19 (2020).10.7733/jnfcwt.2020.18.S.21 ↗
32. Hubbell, J. H. & Seltzer, S. M. Tables of X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients and Mass Energy-Absorption Coefficients 1 KeV to 20 MeV for Elements Z = 1 to 92 and 48 Additional Substances of Dosimetric Interest https://doi.org/10.18434/T4D01F (1995).10.18434/T4D01F ↗
33. Kim, I.-Y., Cho, D.-K., Lee, J. & Choi, H.-J. Scoping calculations on criticality and shielding of the improved KAERI reference disposal system for SNFs (KRS+). J. Nucl. Fuel Cycle Waste Technol. 18, 37–50 (2020).10.7733/jnfcwt.2020.18.S.37 ↗
34. MalGoBalGaeBitNaLa, Y., Heui-ju, C., Min-soo, L. & Seung-yeop, L. Measurement of properties of domestic bentonite for a buffer of an HLW Repository. J. Nucl. Fuel Cycle Waste Technol. 14, 135–147 (2016).10.7733/jnfcwt.2016.14.2.135 ↗
35. Choi, H. J., Lee, J. Y. & Cho, D. K. Re-evaluation of the bentonite buffer dimension in a geological repository for spent nuclear fuel under the KURT conditions. Prog. Nucl. Energy 145, 104138 (2022).10.1016/j.pnucene.2022.104138 ↗
36. Appelo, C. A. J. A Review of Porosity and Diffusion in Bentonite (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2013).