Research highlight from our recent N. Stewart McIntyre award winner Matthew J. Turnbull, Department of Chemistry, Western University. The primary goal of this research is to elucidate the key features that differentiate nanocrystal-based CZTS films from their crystalline counterparts. As indicated in Figure 1, there are three main mechanisms by...Read More
Researchers from SSW, Xerox Research Centre of Canada and Chengdu Green Energy and Green Manufacturing Technology R&D Center developed a TOF-SIMS approach to determine the degree of cross-linking on the surface and its variations in nanoscale depths of organic materials. The proposed that ion intensity ratio (ρ) between C6H¯ and...Read More
Recent research is looking to determine the effects of radiolytically produced HNO3 droplets on the corrosion of copper coatings on high level nuclear waste containers. The extent and distribution of corrosion damage has been analyzed to help determine a penetration rate and the reaction rate constants required to model the...Read More
The mineral processing group at SSW is actively engaged in both contract and academic research within the mineral processing sector of the Canadian mining industry. The group focuses on the relationship between mineral (ore) chemistry and the recovery strategy of a particular process. The overall goal of the research is...Read More
The safety assessment of the Canadian nuclear waste disposal program requires a fundamental understanding of the processes controlling fuel corrosion which could lead to the release of radionuclides to the geosphere from a failed container. The redox conditions controlling fuel (UO2) corrosion inside a failed container will be dictated by...Read More
It has been proposed that Canadian nuclear fuel waste be disposed of 500-1000 m deep in either granitic rock or sedimentary clay deposits. Within the multi-barrier system proposed, the fuel wastes would be sealed in a metallic container, which, in a sedimentary clay environment, could be a single thick-walled design...Read More
The primary goal of this research was to elucidate the key influences of the alloying elements in Ni-Cr-Mo alloys on their electrochemical behaviour. Two alloys, varying in Cr and Mo content, were studied in deaerated 5 M NaCl solutions. As indicated in Figure 1, potentiostatic polarization followed by electrochemical impedance...Read More
Titanium alloys are highly corrosion resistant under oxidizing conditions, but can suffer crevice corrosion at elevated temperatures (>70°C) if the surface is occluded by another material, such as a deposit, a poor weld or a crack. The conditions which develop within a crevice are such that, in the event of...Read More
This recent research project was designed to investigate the influence of carbonate/bicarbonate, the key groundwater constituents likely to influence fuel dissolution inside a failed nuclear waste disposal container, on the reactivity of different uranium oxide (UO2) specimens. A cyclic voltammetric (CV) study of doped UO2 (Dy-UO2, Gd-UO2, 1.5 at% SIMFUEL...Read More
The proposed Canadian container for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel consists of a dual wall comprised of an outer shell of copper over an inner low alloy steel vessel. Because of manufacturing and fabrication challenges for thick-walled containers, a thin-walled alternative design is being developed. Their fabrication involves coating...Read More
