Prediction of the corrosion behavior of spent uranium oxide (UO2) fuel is needed for developing predictive performance assessment models for a geologic repository. Currently, the Fuel Matrix Dissolution Model (FMDM) is being used for modeling UO2 chemistry in the Engineered Barrier System (EBS) and includes the effects of oxidants, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide generated from radiolysis of the fuel in contact with water, as well as the role of hydrogen on limiting corrosion. In this report, efforts to validate the FMDM model using in-situ liquid cells in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are described. The System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI), was invented at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and is a device that enables the investigation of solid-solution systems within the electron microscope. Initial efforts have concentrated on building the testing system for radioactive materials and exploring the use of the SALVI cell on UO2 particles.
Revised: August 11, 2020 |
Published: March 29, 2019