Effects of alpha decay damage on the structure and leaching rates of a glass-bonded ceramic high level waste form.

Argonne National Laboratory has developed a glass-bonded sodalite ceramic waste form to immobilize fission products and plutonium that accumulate during the electrometallurgical conditioning of spent nuclear fuel. To investigate the effects of alpha decay damage on the structure and leaching characteristics of the ceramic material, {sup 238}Pu has been incorporated into the ceramic waste form. The {sup 238}Pu,with its higher specific activity, significantly increases the rate of alpha damage to the waste form. Long term studies have begun with periodic examination of the {sup 238}Pu loaded ceramic material. A number of characterization techniques are used to study the alpha decay damage on the structure of the waste form. In addition, PCT type leachate studies will be performed to determine the effect of alpha decay damage on the durability of the ceramic waste form. Preliminary results from this study are presented