Long term hydrogen absorption behavior and hydrogen embrittlement of titanium overpack under anaerobic condition

Taniguchi, Naoki; Suzuki, Hiroyuki*; Nakanishi, Tomoaki*; Nakayama, Takenori*; Masugata, Tsuyoshi*; Tateishi, Tsuyoshi*

Zairyo To Kankyo, 56(12), p.576 - 584, 2007/12

https://doi.org/10.3323/jcorr.56.576

The long term hydrogen absorption behavior and the possibility of hydrogen embrittlement were studied for titanium overpack for high level radioactive waste disposal. The results of galvanostatic cathodic polarization tests showed that as the cathodic current density is lowered, the amount of absorbed hydrogen for a constant cathodic charge was increased as well as hydrogen permeated into inside of titanium. The hydrogen absorption ratio for a cathodic current density equivalent to the corrosion rate under anaerobic condition was estimated to nearly 100 percent, and the amount of absorbed hydrogen for 1000 years was evaluated to be 400 ppm. The mechanical property of titanium containing hydrogen depended on not only hydrogen concentration but also hydrogen distribution type. The more hydrogen distribution is uniform, the degree of embrittlement was larger. It was expected that the rupture of titanium overpack with 6 mm thickness would be initiated if the crack size in titanium is over about 2-3 mm under the stress corresponds to yield strength.

Study on Hydrogen Absorption of Titanium Overpack

Wada, Ryutaro*; Nishimura, Tsutomu*; Nakanishi, Tomoaki*; Fujiwara, Kazuo*; Inoue, Takao*; Tateishi, Tsuyoshi*; Masugata, Tsuyoshi*

JNC TJ8400 2003-092, 246 Pages, 2003/02

JNC-TJ8400-2003-092.pdf:35.08MB

Titanium is being studied for the high-level radioactive waste package material. Titanium has good corrosion resistance, however there is the possibility of hydrogen embrittlement with absorption of hydrogen in reducing condition. Experimental studies were performed to evaluate the hydrogen absorption behaviors of titanium in reducing condition. The failure model of the titanium overpack was also examined from the viewpoint of fracture mechanism in order to evaluate the fracture behavior of the titanium overpack caused by the hydrogen absorption. (1) Scratch test was conducted in reduce condition. The surface films on the titanium specimen were analyzed to examine the changes of the existing films and the growth phenomena of the regenerated films on the titanium specimen. (2)The long-term reaction test of the titanium specimen using the glass-seal ampoules maintaining reducing condition was conducted and analyses of the hydrogen gas generation and absorption quantitative as well as the generated film evaluation were performed. (3) Under reducing condition, the electrochemical acceleration tests of the titanium specimen were conducted. The effect of acceleration rate on the hydrogen absorption and surface film was evaluated, and the prediction as to the hydrogen absorption behavior at a natural state was also made. (4) The prediction of the maximum residual stress and the evaluation of crack growth of the titanium overpack based on the previous studies were performed. Feasibility of the modeling of fracture phenomenon with existing analysis technique was examined and the items to be developed were also discussed.