The Corrosion Behavior of Technetium Metal Exposed to Aqueous Sulfate and Chloride Solutions

Authors

David G. Kolman, Los Alamos National LaboratoryFollow
George Goff, Los Alamos National LaboratoryFollow
Michael Cisneros, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Kevin Boland, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Gordon Jarvinen, Los Alamos National LaboratoryFollow
Frederic Poineau, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Ken Czerwinski, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Publication Title

Journal of the Electrochemical Society

Volume

164

Issue

6

First page number:

C312

Last page number:

C316

Abstract

Metal waste forms are being studied as possible disposal forms for technetium and other fission products from spent nuclear fuel. As an initial step in assessing the viability of waste forms, technetium corrosion and passivity behavior was assessed across a broad pH spectrum (pH -1 to pH 13). Measurements indicate that the open circuit potential falls into the region of Tc+7 stability, more noble than the region of presumed passivity. Potentiodynamic polarization tests indicate that the Tc samples are not passive. Both electrochemical results and visual inspection suggest the presence of a nonprotective film. The corrosion rate is relatively independent of pH and low, as measured by linear polarization resistance. No evidence of passivity was observed in the Tc+4 region of the potential-pH diagram following in-situ abrasion, suggesting that Tc does not passivate, regardless of potential. © 2017 The Electrochemical Society.

Language

english

Repository Citation

Kolman, D. G., Goff, G., Cisneros, M., Boland, K., Jarvinen, G., Poineau, F., Czerwinski, K. (2017). The Corrosion Behavior of Technetium Metal Exposed to Aqueous Sulfate and Chloride Solutions. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 164(6), C312-C316.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1149/2.1561706jes