Schon, T. ; Heidendael, M.

1998
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Zentralbibliothek, Verlag Jülich

Report No.: Juel-3495

Abstract: During the final disposal ofradioactive waste in rock salt hydrogen can be produced by anaerobic corrosion of metal packaging materials ifwater is present in the repository. On behalf ofthe German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) we experimentally determined the hydrogen evolution rates and associated corrosion rates of steels in crushed rock salt and different brines. The hydrogen formation was monitored nearly on line by gas chromatography without interrupting the corrosion process. The time-dependent curve of the hydrogen formation and corrosion rates is characterized by a maximum during the beginning of the experiments. With rising temperature the maximum grows and is shifted to the beginning of the corrosion reaction. Caused by protective layer fonnation the hydrogen evolution then declines and very low end values are attained. This is especially important for the long-term extrapolation of corrosion data in risk analysis for the final disposal of radioactive wastes.

1. Institut für Sicherheitsforschung und Reaktortechnik (ISR)