| Spent fuel disposal is one of the hottest topics in nuclear news, getting considerable media coverage around the world. One of the proposed and most widely supported strategies is to dispose of spent fuel permanently in deep underground vaults. Through the use of engineered barriers including vault seals, vault composition, backfill and sophisticated containers, this radioactive material is isolated from the natural environment and the biosphere in particular.; The purpose of the current study is to determine the feasibility of using PEEK, an advanced polymer, and continuous carbon fibre in a consolidated composite as the principal disposal container component. Feasibility was determined by simulating the ultimate radioactive environment to which the containers will be exposed, and evaluating the mechanical and chemical changes induced by ionizing radiation. The irradiation of test specimens was completed by exposure to the mixed radiation field produced by the SLOWPOKE-2 nuclear reactor at various temperatures (20°C–75°C) to a variety of doses. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
