Time dependence of corrosion behavior on Ta in NaOH solutions

Ishijima, Yasuhiro; Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Abe, Hitoshi

Materials Transactions, 63(4), p.538 - 544, 2022/04

https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.MT-C2021005

The time dependence of the corrosion behavior of tantalum (Ta), which is used in nuclear fuel reprocessing equipment, in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions was investigated by immersion tests, and the mechanism of the time dependence was examined via surface observations and electrochemical measurements. The immersion tests were conducted at room temperature with NaOH concentrations ranging from 1 to 7 mol/L for immersion periods of 24 to 168 h. The corrosion rate increased with the NaOH concentration but peaked with the immersion period and then decreased. The time to peak of the corrosion rate was shorter with higher NaOH concentration. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Raman spectra of the surfaces of the specimens immersed in the 7 mol/L NaOH solution for more than 48 h showed NaTaO formation. The polarization resistance decreased with immersion time for all NaOH concentrations up to about 24 h after immersion. Thereafter, the polarization resistance increased with immersion time in 7 mol/L NaOH solution and remained almost constant in the other NaOH concentrations. Findings suggested that the change in the corrosion rate was affected by the film formation during immersion, since the time dependence of the polarization resistance and the sum of film resistance and charge transfer resistance had the same tendencies. The precipitation film was mainly NaTaO formed by the dissolution of the passivity film on Ta.

Time dependence of corrosion behavior on Ta in NaOH solutions

Ishijima, Yasuhiro; Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Abe, Hitoshi

Zairyo To Kankyo, 70(6), p.192 - 198, 2021/06

https://doi.org/10.3323/jcorr.70.192

The time dependence of corrosion behavior on tantalum used in nuclear fuel reprocessing equipment in sodium hydroxide solution was investigated by immersion corrosion tests, and the mechanism of aging change was discussed from surface observations and electrochemical measurements. The immersion tests were carried out at room temperature with NaOH concentrations ranging from 1 to 7 mol/L and immersion times ranging from 24 to 168 hr, respectively. The corrosion rate increased with NaOH concentration, but peaked with immersion time and then decreased. The time to peak of corrosion rate was shorter with higher NaOH concentration. The SEM observations and Raman analysis at the surface of the specimens that were cleaned and weighed after the immersion test did not show any film formation. On the other hand, the polarization resistance showed a constant value or an increase after a decrease immediately after immersion. It is suggested that the change in corrosion rate is affected by the formation of film by immersion, since the value of polarization resistance is almost the same as the sum of film resistance and charge transfer resistance. The film was considered to be mainly NaTaO formed by the dissolution of Ta.

Effect of Ru chemical form on corrosion behavior of structural materials in spent fuel reprocessing process

Sano, Yuichi; Ambai, Hiromu; Takahatake, Yoko

Aichi Shinkurotoron Hikari Senta 2017-Nendo Kokyoto Riyo Seika Hokokusho (Internet), 1 Pages, 2018/00

In order to elucidate the mechanism of corrosion in the reprocessing process and propose a method for suppressing corrosion, the effect of coexisting substances on the chemical form of Ru in nitric acid solution containing seawater components was evaluated. The result of XAFS measurement for Ru showed the structural change around a Ru atom due to the interaction with chloride ion, which will suppress the corrosion promoting action of Ru in nitric acid solution.

Study on the effect of phosphorous concentration on intergranular corrosion of stainless steel in boiling nitric acid solution

Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Komatsu, Atsushi; Igarashi, Takahiro; Yamamoto, Masahiro

Proceedings of European Corrosion Congress 2014 (EUROCORR 2014) (USB Flash Drive), 10 Pages, 2014/09

In this paper, the effect of phosphorous concentration in grain boundary (GB) on intergranular corrosion (IC) progress was studied to understand GB corrosion behavior of stainless steels in boiling nitric acid solution. Phosphorus (P) added extra high purity type 310 stainless alloy was corroded in boiling nitric acid solution, and P in GB was detected by three-dimensional atom probe. IC progress considering with P profile in GB was studied by numerical simulation using cellular automaton method. As the results, we concluded that P concentration change around 1.4at% in GB of the alloy caused IC rate change in boiling nitric acid solution. The developed numerical method could simulate GB corrosion change with P distribution in GB.

Effects of a heat-transfer on corrosion of zirconium in a boiling nitric acid solution

Kato, Chiaki; Yano, Masaya*; Kiuchi, Kiyoshi; Sugimoto, Katsuhisa*

Zairyo To Kankyo, 52(1), p.35 - 43, 2003/01

http://joi.jlc.jst.go.jp/JST.Journalarchive/jcorr1991/52.35

The effects of heat-transfer on the corrosion of zirconium was examined in boiling nitric acid solutions with various concentrations. Corrosion mass losses and electrochemical polarization curves were measured on the heat-transfer and isothermal surfaces in the solutions. It was found that the corrosion rate of zirconium was higher on the heat-transfer surface than that on the isothermal surface. The rate increased with increasing nitric acid concentration and solution temperature. The increased oxidization potential on the heat-transfer surface is attributed to the reduction of nitrous acid concentration by the thermal decomposition on the surface and the removal of the decomposition product from solution by boiling bubbles. The redox potential of 12 mol/dm3 nitric acid on a boiling heat-transfer surface was very close to the breakdown potential of primary passivity of zirconium. This suggests the initiation of SCC on a boiling heat-transfer surface in a nuclear fuel reprocessing.

Annual report on the effluent control of Tokai Works FY 2001

Shinohara, Kunihiko; Takeishi, Minoru; ; ; Mizutani, Tomoko

JNC TN8440 2001-019, 141 Pages, 2001/11

JNC-TN8440-2001-019.pdf:12.69MB

This report was written about the effluent control in JNC Tokai Works from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001. In this period, the quantities and concentrations of retroactivities in liquid waste from Tokai Works were under the discharge limits of "Safety Regulations for the Tokai Reprocessing Plant", "Safety Regulations for the Tokai Reprocessing Plant" and regulations of government.

Study of uranium particle fuel fabrication with the external gelation process with the vibration dropping Method

Nishimura, Kazuhisa; Shoji, Shuichi*; *; Sato, Seiichi*; ; Endo, Hideo

JNC TN8430 2001-005, 64 Pages, 2001/09

JNC-TN8430-2001-005.pdf:4.1MB

The external gelation process is one of the candidates of MOX particle fuel fabrication for advanced recycle system. It was necessary to perform preliminary fuel fabrication with uranium before starting MOX tests. As the result of the preliminary examination, Basics conditions of the fabrication were obtained: (1)Optimized uranyl nitrate solution and PVA solution, as raw materials were prepared. (2)The frequency of vibration and the amount of flow were obtained with optimized broth (mixture) in the vibration dropping process. (3)The influence of composition of broth and concentration of ammonia solution on gelation process was obtained. (4)Impurities after aging, washing and drying spHerical gel were surveyed, (5)The spherical gel were calcined to oxide particles and the particles were characterized by TG-DTA, therefore it is certain that outlook on the sintered particles as final products is very clear. On the top of that, there were no fatal technicalities of the external gelation process through material balance and a diameter dispersion of spherical gel and oxide particles. It is necessary to perform uranium examination to solve some new problems, for instant, surface crack of spherical gel. Although almost of all the preparations are completed and fabrication examination of MOX particles with vibration dropping equipment are ready for starting.

Manufacture history results of an investigation of the bitumen solidification object towards the check of an abandonment object

; Kondo, Toshiyuki; *

JNC TN8440 2001-024, 210 Pages, 2001/08

JNC-TN8440-2001-024.pdf:24.99MB

In order to make this book reflect in the investigation which turned the bitumen solidification object to maintenance of the abandonment object technical standard on condition of carrying out subterranean disposal in the future - solidification - it created for the purpose of utilizing as precious sources of information, such as a nuclide inventory in the living body, group-izing of the past campaign required for typical solidification object selection, and information offer at the time of disposal examination. A development operation history collected so that histories including the shift action in an institution of the formation of discharge reduction of the characteristic of solidification object manufacture outlines, such as composition of the process of an institution and a solidification object and a storage actual result, the contents of an examination of the past campaign, and the solidification object manufactured based on topics or radioactive iodine and radioactive carbon etc., such as the past contents of an examination / operation, may grasp comprehensively in creation, and it carried out as the composition stared the trend of future disposal fixedly. It was a period (for 16 years) until an bituminization demonstration facility processing institution will start a cold examination from April (Showa 57), 1982, and it starts a hot examination from May 4, it starts solidification processing technical development operation from october 6 and it results in the fire explosion accident on March 11 (Heisei 9), 1997, and low level radioactivity concentration waste fluid was processed 7,438 m, and 29,967 bitumen solidification objects were manufactured. According to the accident, it is necessary to hand it down to future generations with processing technology while the bitumen solidification object manufactured in 15 years although the bituminization demonstration facility processing institution came to close the mission holds information precious ...

Long-term durability test of acid recovery evaporators made of Ti-5% Ta aIloy and zirconium

; Fujisaku, Kazuhiko*; *; ; Koyama, Tomozo

JNC TN8410 2001-013, 255 Pages, 2001/05

JNC-TN8410-2001-013.pdf:24.24MB

Mock-ups of acid recovery evaporators which are made of Ti-5% Ta alloy and Zr were tested under inactive condition for forty thousands hours to improve a corrosion resistance of acid recovery evaporator in Tokai reprocessing plant (TRP). The mock-up unit was designed and produced referring to the specification of acid recovery evaporator in TRP and the evaporation performance of the mock-up was 1/27 of TRP. A long-term durability of both evaporators was demonstrated by results of operation data, evaporation performance and corrosion resistance. The mock-up unit did not suffer from any trouble during the running test and the operation data such as temperature, flow, concentrations of nitric acid and metal ions were fairly stable within standard condition. As for the corrosion resistance, cracks and local corrosion such as intergranular attack were not observed on both evaporators after the running test, and a corrosion of weld was not selective. The average corrosion rates at measuring points were less than 0.1mm/yr, respectively, however, thickness of the Ti-5% Ta alloy evaporator was slightly reduced at all points of vapor phase region. In addition, from the result by test coupon, it is found that both materials have low susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking in this environment. The destructive inspection showed that the mechanical properties of both materials were not degraded during the running test. Finally, the total running time of the mock-up unit is much more than a maximum running time of acid recovery evaporator made of stainless steel in TRP (nearly 15,000 hours). On the basis of the test results, an excellent durability of Ti-5% Ta alloy and Zr evaporators under was successfully demonstrated throughout the mock-up test from an engineering perspective.

The 3rd technological meeting of Tokai reprocessing plant

Maki, Akira; ; Taguchi, Katsuya; ; Shimizu, Ryo; Shoji, Kenji;

JNC TN8410 2001-012, 185 Pages, 2001/04

JNC-TN8410-2001-012.pdf:9.61MB

"The third technological meeting of Tokai Reprocessing plant (TRP)" was held in JNFL Rokkasyo site on March 14, 2001. The technical meetings have been held in the past two times. The first one was about the present status and future plan of the TRP and second one was about safety evaluation work on the TRP. At this time, the meeting focussed on the corrosion experrience, in-service inspection technology and future maintenance plan. The report contains the proceedings, transparancies and questionnaires of the meeting are contained.