Microstructural characterization of copper coatings for used nuclear fuel containers

加拿大计划建立一个深层地质储存库，以最终储存在加拿大各地运行的CANDU反应堆的用过的核燃料。负责设计和实施DGR的是核废物管理组织（NWMO），这是一个向加拿大自然资源部长报告的非营利组织。西北气象组织目前正在实施最后核废料储存的适应阶段管理计划。废物储存中最关键的组成部分之一，即用过的燃料容器（UFC），目前正在由西北气象组织开发。该容器由高强度钢容器组成，该容器涂有铜以实现长期（例如100万年）的耐腐蚀性。西北气象组织已经确定了两种涂层技术的应用程序：电沉积（艾德）铜和冷喷涂（CS）铜。目前，西北气象组织有几个研究计划，评估长期腐蚀和机械性能的艾德和CS-铜。这里提出的研究的深层微观结构表征的艾德和CS铜是在支持开发这些材料的微观结构腐蚀/力学性能的关系的全面理解。在这项研究中，NWMO将向多伦多大学提供几段UFC材料，这些材料是从NWMO与其合作伙伴Integran Technologies Inc.合作制造的全尺寸原型上切割下来的，密西索加，ON和加拿大国家研究理事会，布切尔维尔，QC。在该大学，最先进的电子显微镜表征工具将用于揭示可能影响UFC长期腐蚀性能的微观结构特征。本研究将为4名研究生和1名博士后提供培训机会。这将大大有助于铜涂层微观结构及其对作为旧核燃料容器工程防腐层性能的影响领域的知识进步。

Canada's plan for the final storage of used nuclear fuel from the fleet of CANDU reactors operated across Canada is a Deep Geological Repository (DGR). Responsible for designing and implementing the DGR is the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), a not-for-profit organization reporting to the Minister of Natural Resources of Canada. NWMO is now implementing the Adaptive Phase Management (APM) plan for final nuclear waste storage. One of the most critical components in the waste storage, the Used Fuel Container (UFC), is currently under development by NWMO. This container consists of a high strength steel vessel coated with copper for long-term (e.g. 1 million years) corrosion resistance. NWMO has identified two coating technologies for the application process: electrodeposited (ED) copper and cold-spray (CS) copper. Currently NWMO has several research programs which assess the long-term corrosion and mechanical properties of ED and CS-copper. The research proposed here on a deep microstructural characterization of ED and CS copper is in support of developing a comprehensive understanding of microstructure-corrosion/mechanical property relationships for these materials. For this study, NWMO will provide the University of Toronto with several sections of UFC material cut from full-sized prototypes fabricated by NWMO in collaboration with their partners Integran Technologies Inc., Mississauga, ON and the National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC. At the University state-of-the art electron microscopy characterization tools will be used to reveal the microstructural features that potentially could affect the long-term corrosion performance of the UFC. This research will provide training opportunities for 4 graduate students and 1 postdoctoral fellow. It will contribute significantly to the advancement of knowledge in the field of copper coating microstructures and their effects on performance as an engineered corrosion barrier for used nuclear fuel containers.