Role of clay minerals as backfill in radioactive waste disposal

摘要: The use of clay minerals as backfill materials in high level radioactive waste isolation systems is presently a subject great interest and research the United States abroad. This paper describes potential role repository presents review development activities this field. A technical evaluation existing data generated abroad indicates that minerals, especially smectites, can serve an extremely effective barrier to radionuclide migration for periods thousands years. However, more are required on stability, sorption characteristics, swelling behavior under anticipated conditions assess their long-term performance repository. 31 refs., 5 figs.