Augmented Model of Microstructure Evolution of Chornobyl Lavas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15407/ujpe71.7.616Keywords:
microstructure, evolution model, lava-like fuel-containing materials, physical and chemical processes, crystallization, forecastAbstract
The model for the microstructure evolution of Chornobyl “lavas” or lava-like fuel-containing materials (LFCM) has been augmented taking into account new data on black ceramics. Currently, LFCM are multiphase materials; a silicate glass phase contains inclusions of crystalline phases (with and without uranium), nano-sized pore channels, pores and cracks. LFCM has open porosity. The parameters of three of nine previously known physical and chemical processes that occur in brown ceramics—oxidation, radiation-stimulated phase formation and crystallization—were confirmed and refined. Another new chemical process has been identified: the synthesis of uranium-free oxyhydroxide. A new stage of microstructure evolution has been added. Stage durations have been revised. An updated forecast of the state and behavior of LFCM is given. In the future, a group of physical and chemical processes that sequentially occur one after another in brown ceramics and are associated with inclusions of urania will no longer significantly affect the microstructure of black ceramics. There will be little or no destruction of LFCM in the coming years. It has been confirmed that the destruction of LFCM is possible in the medium term; its timing and particle sizes into which LFCM can be destroyed have been confirmed. In the long term, the behavior of LFCM (both brown and black ceramics) will be determined by the crystallization process of the silicate glass phase. Crystallization of several crystalline phases will most likely slow down the crystallization of the glass phase as a whole. Technological and methodological approaches to management of LFCM are discussed.
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