Fuel Cycle Programs, Quarterly Progress Report: July-September 1980

Development of data on various properties of radioactive waste forms is continuing in an effort to characterize the compatibility, impact resistance, and leach-resistance of solid waste forms. In work characterizing the impact resistance of brittle waste forms, tests were made of corner impacts of Pyrex cones and cylinders and on a variety of vitreous crystalline, and conglomerate materials under comparable impacts. Leach rate measurements were continued, including a study of the leach resistance of SYNROC-type waste forms. An approach to the study of radionuclide migration by groundwater flow is to use stream-simulation experiments that combine engineered barriers, canisters, waste, and rock cores; apparatus has been constructed. Development of equipment for destructive analysis of LWBR irradiated fuel rods is in progress. A program has started to develop an interim waste form that can be transported from facilities (e.g., West Valley) where waste is generated to terminal waste processing.