Overview of Corrosion Studeis on Carbon Steel,Titanium and Copper as Overpack Materials in Simulated Geological Disposal Environments

Abstract

Carbon steel, titanium and copper are thought to be candidate materials for an overpack used for the geological disposal of radioactive wastes. In this paper, electrochemical and corrosion studies on the materials in simulated geological disposal environments are reviewed. Deaerated or aerated, single or mixed solutions of NaCl, Na₂SO₄ and NaHCO₃ and bentonite soaked with these solutions have been used as simulated geological disposal environments. Anodic and cathodic polarization curves, corrosion rates, surface films, general corrosion, pitting, crevice corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, and stress-corrosion cracking of the materials in the environments have been examined.