Synthesis and Research of Glass-Crystalline Materials for Radioactive Waste Vitrification

Abstract The presented work considers the need to implement effective methods for immobilization liquid radioactive waste from nuclear energy (RAW). It is shown that the most expedient for this purpose is the use of binding substances or glass. The advantages of immobilization (vitrification) of radioactive waste with glass materials were analyzed. The advantages of nanostructured glass-crystalline materials as strengthened solid matrices for vitrification have been identified. In addition to the necessary mechanical properties, a prerequisite for using glass for radioactive waste vitrification is high chemical resistance during exploitation. To verify the assumptions made, experimental samples of calcium aluminosilicate and calcium aluminoborosilicate glass were synthesized and their properties were investigated. In particular, high-strength glass-crystalline materials based on anorthite and hydroxyapatite have been synthesized. The influence of the chemical and phase composition of glass samples on the chemical resistance of the obtained glass materials was determined. Based on our research, it was established that the modification of calcium aluminoborosilicate glass with Zn and Zr oxides results in the formation of a finely dispersed structure of the material. This ensures high chemical resistance and mechanical strength of the obtained glass samples. The introduction of developed chemically resistant glasscrystalline materials is one of the stages of solving the problem of long-term vitrification of radioactive isotopes, especially in critical situations.