The inhibiting effects of hydrogen on the corrosion of uranium dioxide under nuclear waste disposal conditions

A number of electrochemical experiments were employed to investigate the effects of hydrogen on the corrosion of UO 2 under nuclear waste disposal conditions. A combination of corrosion potential (E CORR ) measurements and cyclic voltammetry have indicated that dissolved hydrogen can polarize the UO 2 surface to reducing potentials; i.e., to E CORR values more negative then those observed under anoxic (argon-purged) conditions. A comparison of the behaviours of SIMFUEL specimens with and without incorporated noble metal e-particles indicates that these particles may act as catalytic electrodes for H 2 oxidation, H 2 ↔ 2e - + 2H + . It is the galvanic coupling of these particles to the UO 2 matrix which suppresses the fuel corrosion potential.