Microstructural characterization of copper coatings for used nuclear fuel containers

加拿大计划最终储存来自加拿大各地运行的CANDU反应堆的乏燃料，这是一个深层地质储存库（DGR）。负责设计和实施DGR的是核废料管理组织（NWMO），这是一个向加拿大自然资源部报告的非营利组织。NWMO目前正在实施自适应阶段管理（APM）计划，用于最终核废料储存。废物储存中最关键的部件之一，即乏燃料容器，目前正在由西北气象组织开发。该容器由涂有铜的高强度钢容器组成，具有长期（例如100万年）耐腐蚀性。NWMO确定了两种用于应用过程的涂层技术：电沉积（ED）铜和冷喷涂（CS）铜。目前NWMO有几个研究项目，评估ED和cs铜的长期腐蚀和力学性能。本文提出的对ED和CS铜的深层微观结构表征的研究，有助于全面了解这些材料的微观结构-腐蚀/力学性能关系。**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. （Mississauga， ON）和加拿大国家研究委员会（Boucherville， QC）合作制造的全尺寸原型中切割出来的。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。本研究将提供培养4名研究生和1名博士后的机会。这将极大地促进对铜涂层微结构及其作为乏燃料容器工程腐蚀屏障性能影响领域的知识的进步。**********

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. **********