State of a Bentonite Barrier after 8 Years of Heating and Hydration in the Laboratory

Abstract

The conditions of the bentonite in an engineered barrier for HLW disposal have been simulated in a laboratory test. Six cylindrical blocks of bentonite compacted at a dry density of 1.64 g/cm3 were piled up in a hermetic Teflon cell. The total length of clay inside the cell was 60 cm. The bottom surface of the bentonite was heated at 100°C while the top surface was injected with granitic water. The duration of the test was 7.6 years. The water intake was measured during the test and, at the end, the cell was dismounted and the dry density, water content, specific surface area, mineralogy, geochemistry and swelling capacity of the clay were measured in different sections along the blocks. The material used in this test is the FEBEX bentonite.