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Conductivity Behavior of Salt Deposits on the Surface of Engineered Barrier Materials for the Potential High-Level Nuclear Waste Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Lietai Yang ,
Miriam R. Juckett  and
Roberto T. Pabalan
Lietai Yang
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, San Antonio, TX 78238–5166, U.S.A.
Miriam R. Juckett
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, San Antonio, TX 78238–5166, U.S.A.
Roberto T. Pabalan
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, San Antonio, TX 78238–5166, U.S.A.
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Abstract

The electrical conductance or conductivity of three salt mixtures, Na-K-Cl-NO3, Ca-K-Cl and Ca-Na-Cl, were measured at 25, 50 and 70°C [77, 122, and 158 °F] as a function of relative humidity (RH). Mutual deliquescence and efflorescence RH (MDRH and MERH) values were determined based on the conductivity measurements. It was found that the conductivity of the three salt mixtures started to increase at RH values that are approximately 40 % of their MDRH and increased by 1to 2 orders of magnitude just before reaching the MDRH. At the MDRH, a significant increase in conductivity was observed. The MDRH and MERH for the Ca-K-Cl and Ca-Na-Cl mixtures were found to be approximately 15 % in the temperature range of 50 to 70 °C [122 to 158 °F]. The MDRH and MERH for the Na-K-Cl-NO3system were found to be approximately 54 % at 50 °C [122 °F] and decreased significantly with an increase in temperature.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 824: Symposium CC – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVIII , 2004 , CC1.4
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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