Study on hydrogen embrittlement property of titanium for nuclear fuel waste container

Wada, Ryutaro*; not registered; Fujiwara, Kazuo*; not registered; Tateishi, Tsuyoshi*; Masugata, Tsuyoshi*

In geologic disposal system of high-level radioactive waste, confinement by waste container must be assured over a thousand years. Titanium is one of the candidate materials, so it is important to clarify hydrogen embrittlement property under geological environment for the container lifetime prediction. The purpose of this study is to investigate hydrogen embrittlement behavior of titanium under reducing condition. Hydrogen was absorbed into titanium test pieces by electrochemical method, and tensile bending and impact tests were performed for mechanical property research. Under 1000ppm concentration of hydrogen, while distinct degradation of mechanical properties by hydrogen embrittlement occurred on dynamic stress, micro cracks induced by hydride were observed in fracture, but distinct degradation of mechanical properties by hydrogen embrittlement did not occur on static stress. Under low oxygen circumstances, corrosion rates of titanium were estimated 10 micrometer/year by hydrogen absorption method, on the contrary to 10 micrometer/year by gas evolution method. These results indicated hydrogen generated by corrosion of titanium under reducing condition, is almost absorbed into material. Carbon steel is regarded as reinforcement of the titanium nuclear fuel waste container. Magnetite, corrosion product of carbon steel, is considered to accelerate corrosion rate. Contribution of hydrogen evolution reaction to its acceleration is estimated to ca.60%.