space, requiring rearrangements in
the glass-vitrified matrix. As higher
density occurs, these new crystals
will project much higher pressure to
the amorphous glass that will fracture in order to release the internal
stresses. It needs to be considered
that some of the steel containers
may crack or fracture, in order to
release the additional pressure in
geometry configuration. (Although
not perfect, the only way to avoid
this is to leave them in the sealed
container sufficient empty volume,
that will compensate the volume
changes – pressure valves are not
acceptable because this will relate
to ventilation issues inside the canister.) Accounting for only the linear
expansion of the glass matrix, this
was done at significantly reduced
levels.
degrees Celsius. As a result, the
super cooled liquid threshold will
reduce which will bring the solid
glass into a semi-softening or semimelting stage.
At this point, we must consider the
geochemical processes to explain
the processes that will take place.
Predominantly, all solidified HLW
comprises quick formed unstable
oxides. At an increased temperature and with no additional amount
of oxygen or water, some of these
oxides will form crystalline packets
of metals and Silicon oxide, widely
available in the amorphous glass
(unstable predominantly chain
configurations lattices, very well
explained in the crystallography).
Once formed in the semi-softened
/ semi-melted glass matrixes, these
crystalline packets will continue to
grow until the equilibrium in the
mix falls under the sustainable for
grow level.
This issue was not considered
in the present storage containers.
The process of expansion / precrystallization of the glass / HLW
matrix will be complicated further
by water vapor condensation that
will occur inside the large canister.
Filling the canister with nitrogen
will decrease this effect but will not
Two global changes will happen in
the original amorphous glass / HLW
matrix. The newly growing crystals will occupy the configuration of
31