Melting behavior and thermal conductivity of solid sodium-concrete reaction product

Kawaguchi, Munemichi; Miyahara, Shinya; Uno, Masayoshi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(6), p.513 - 520, 2019/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1599744

This study revealed melting points and thermal conductivities of four samples generated by sodium-concrete reaction (SCR). We prepared the samples using two methods such as firing mixtures of sodium and grinded concrete powder, and sampling depositions after the SCR experiments. In the former, the mixing ratios were determined from the past experiment. The latter simulated the more realistic conditions such as the temperature history and the distribution of Na and concrete. The thermogravimetry-differential thermal analyzer (TG-DTA) measurement showed the melting points were 865-942C, but those of the samples containing metallic Na couldn't be clarified. In the two more realistic samples, the compression moldings in a furnace were observed. The observation revealed the softening temperature was 800-840C and the melting point was 840-850C, which was 10-20C lower than the TG-DTA results. The thermodynamics calculation of FactSage 7.2 revealed the temperature of the onset of melting was caused by melting of the some components such as NaSiO and/or NaSiO. Moreover, the thermal conductivity was =1-3W/m-K, which was comparable to xNaO-1-xSiO (x=0.5, 0.33, 0.25), and those at 700C were explained by the equation of .