Containment materials

A general approach to confinement materials will be developed during this teaching unit, addressing the desired properties, the different classes of confinement matrices, and the associated synthesis methods. The structure-property relationships related to the confinement of radionuclides and/or toxic chemical elements will also be described. The materials covered will be glass, glass-ceramic, or ceramic.

Hourly volumes:

            CM: 12 p.m.

            Tutorial: 8 hours

The objective of this teaching unit is to understand the approaches used to define, develop, and characterize materials (glass, glass-ceramics, ceramics, hydraulic binders) intended for the containment of radionuclides and/or toxic chemical elements.

Basic elements of radioactivity

Chemistry of solutions applied to actinides

Advanced inorganic materials

Terminal control

• Desired usage properties and associated constraints:
• - Containment of radionuclides and toxic chemicals (glass, glass-ceramics, ceramics, hydraulic binders)
• - Separation/sorting of radioelements by crystallization/precipitation processes
• Material classes and synthesis routes in a nuclear environment:
• - Glasses (borosilicate, phosphate, aluminosilicate, etc.)
• - Ceramic materials
• - Hydraulic binders
• Relationships between solid structures and expected properties (case studies):
• - Formulations of glass and ceramics in relation to waste streams (radioactive, toxic, etc.)
• - Formulations of hydraulic binders for saline waste streams (sulfates, nitrates, etc.)

Administrative contact(s): Master's in Chemistry Secretariat

Master's degree in Chemistry @ umontpellier.fr