Glass matrices: synthesis and long-term behavior

This teaching unit covers various aspects relating to the synthesis, characterization and long-term behavior of glass matrices. The first aspect concerns the methodology used to study the long-term behavior of glass matrices under weathering conditions, with particular emphasis on the initial characteristics of the materials, the key phenomena governing their behavior and suitable predictive models. This will be followed by a discussion of leaching and irradiation aging of glassy materials. These concepts will be supported by a case study on the long-term behavior of nuclear glass.

Hourly volumes* :

            CM: 12h

            TD : 8h

The objective of this teaching unit is to understand the methodology used to predict the behavior of nuclear glasses with a view to long-term conditioning of high activity and long period and to acquire the knowledge necessary to understand the solid/liquid interface and its evolution in storage conditions in geological formation.

Basics of radioactivity

Fuel cycle: from mining to waste management

Continuous control

Methodology for studying long-term behavior 

• Initial characteristics of materials, characteristics and evolution of geological storage (thermal, hydraulic, mechanical and chemical)
• Key phenomena governing the behavior of materials
• Predictive modeling and validation
• Leaching of vitreous materials:
• Modes of alteration
• Solid-solution interface (double layer and surface charges, adsorption, hydrolysis, condensation and precipitation phenomena)
• Dissolution kinetics, control by chemical reaction
  • Reaction rate, reaction orders, rate constant and activation energy, solubility product and thermodynamic equilibrium
  • Transition state theory. General law of dissolution of minerals
  • Experimental devices for studying dissolution
• Transport at interfaces (diffusion of aqueous species, porous medium)
• Nature and role of alteration products (frost, secondary mineral phases)
• Effect of the main storage parameters on the kinetics: temperature, composition of the solution, environmental materials, etc. Mechanisms of catalysis, inhibition, adsorption
• Aging of vitreous materials under self-irradiation
• Case studies: long-term behavior of nuclear glasses in geological storage conditions:
• Building an envelope model
• Application to the case of R7T7 glasses stored in a clay environment
• Validation elements: natural and archaeological analogues

Administrative contact(s): Master of Chemistry secretariat

master-chimie @ umontpellier.fr (master-chimie @ umontpellier.fr)