We identify the state of the art, gaps in current understanding, and key research needs in the area of modeling the long-term degradation of ceramic waste forms for nuclear waste disposition. The directed purpose of this report is to define a roadmap for Waste IPSC needs to extend capabilities of waste degradation to ceramic waste forms, which overlaps with the needs of the subconsinuum scale of FMM interests. The key knowledge gaps are in the areas of i) methodology for developing reliable interatomic potentials to model the complex atomic-level interactions in waste forms; ii) characterization of water interactions at ceramic surfaces and interfaces; and iii) extension of atomic-level insights to the long time and distance scales relevant to the problem of actinide and fission product immobilization.
Revised: June 9, 2012 |
Published: September 1, 2011