the modeling process.
These conditions may
jeopardize the assumption of geologically long
stability of the glass for
a radioactive HLW containment matrix.
A key element is that
amorphous glass in a
solid
thermodynamic state is considered
as solid liquid / liquid
solid with a very narrow
threshold for reversibility known as super
cooled liquid (liquidsemisolid-solid state
and the reverse – solidsemisolid-liquid state)
– refer to enclosed diagram.
pressure that was par- established. The misstially considered in the ing element is what will
happen in the sealed
vitrification modeling.
stainless steel containIt is well known that er. The container volthe vitrified radioactive ume is constant and at
HLW generates heat some point the presand will be in the range sure inside the stainof 500 to 550 degrees less steel container will
Celsius for a period of start to rise. It is obviseveral hundred years. ous that the increased
Since this temperature pressure will move the
was significantly lower glass transition gap to
from the initial melting the right, occurs at a
temperature of boron much lower temperasilicate glass at room ture and become closer
temperature, no addi- to the actual temperational concerns were ture range of 500-550
The first ungrounded assumption is that
the glass melting temperature is significantly
higher than the radioisotopes evaporation temperature. This threshold of glass transition
will be narrowed significantly after applying
30