CorroZoom David Shoesmith: Corrosion Processes Under High-Level Nuclear Waste Disposal Conditions

To register (free for all):
https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZAeUXHD7RCKDy_SFgR5zbw

Corrosion Processes Under High-Level Nuclear Waste Disposal Conditions
Prof. David Shoesmith
University of Western Ontario

Abstract
The planned deep geologic repositories (DGR) for high level nuclear waste (nuclear fuel) will consist of a sequence of geological and engineered barriers whose long-term performance must be demonstrated by the development of robust assessment models. These models must be based on a thorough understanding of the performance of a wide range of materials. The greatest threat to both the fuel (uranium dioxide inside a Zr alloy cladding) and the primary engineered barrier (a Cu-coated or Cu-shielded steel container) will be corrosion in the range of exposure environments which will exist as DGR conditions evolve with time. This presentation will concentrate on a range of possible corrosion processes: (i) Cu corrosion in the presence of microbially generated sulfide under both oxic and anoxic conditions; (ii) galvanic coupling between Cu and carbon steel; (iii) the mechanism and consequences of hydrogen absorption by Zr alloys and how it differs from absorption by titanium alloys; (iv) the influence of water radiolysis products (mainly H2O2 and H2) and radioactive fission product-doping on uranium dioxide dissolution. Besides studies using standard electrochemical and surface analytical measurements, the application of a range of additional techniques will be described. These include scanning electrochemical microscopy, neutron reflectometry coupled with electrochemical methods, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and X-ray microcomputed tomography.

Bio
David Shoesmith is an emeritus professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Western Ontario (UWO, London, Canada) and the previous director of Surface Science Western (https://www.surfacesciencewestern.com/). He received a Ph.D. in electrochemistry from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK) and was a research scientist with Atomic Energy of Canada prior to joining UWO. He is an elected Fellow of the Canadian Royal Society, and has received a number of national and international awards. His research has been focused on the application of electrochemical and surface analytical techniques, oxide and sulfide film properties, microscopic examination of the evolution and spatial distribution of corrosion damage on a wide range of materials including copper, titanium and nickel alloys, uranium dioxide, and carbon steels, and on the development of computational models for corrosion processes. A major emphasis has been on corrosion processes anticipated within high-level nuclear waste repositories with funding, at various times, from the relevant organizations in Canada, Sweden, the United States, and Switzerland. He has served on scientific and review boards for these, and other, countries.