Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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PROPERTIES OF LOW-PH CEMENT GROUT AS A SEALING MATERIAL FOR THE GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE

  • Kim, Jin-Seop (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Kwon, S. (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Choi, Jong-Won (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Cho, Gye-Chun (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST))
  • Received : 2010.12.23
  • Accepted : 2011.04.09
  • Published : 2011.10.31
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Abstract

The current solution to the problem of using cementitious material for sealing purposes in a final radioactive waste repository is to develop a low-pH cement grout. In this study, the material properties of a low-pH cement grout based on a recipe used at ONKALO are investigated by considering such factors as pH variation, compressive strength, dynamic modulus, and hydraulic conductivity by using silica fume and micro-cement. From the pH measurements of the hardened cement grout, the required pH (< pH 11) is obtained after 130 days of curing. Although the engineering properties of the low-pH cement grout used in this study are inferior to those of conventional high-pH cement grout, the utilization of silica fume and micro-cement effectively meets the long-term environmental and durability requirements for cement grout in a radioactive waste repository.

Keywords

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