Implications of the use of low-pH cementitious materials in high activity radioactive waste repositories

One of the most accepted engineering construction concepts for high radioactive nuclear waste of underground repositories considers the use of low pH cementitious materials, in order to avoid the formation of an alkaline plume fluid which perturbs one of the engineered barriers of the repository, the bentonite. The accepted solution to maintain the bentonite stability, which is function of the pH, is to develop cementitious materials that generate pore waters with pH ≤ 11, because the corrosion velocity of the clay is significantly reduced below this value. The IETcc-CSIC has focused the research activity on low-pH cementitious materials using two cements: Ordinary Portland Cements (OPC) and Calcium Aluminates Cements (CAC). In both cases, the achievement of a low-pH environment implies the use of high content of mineral admixtures to prepare the binder. Obviously, the inclusion of high contents of mineral admixtures in the cement formulation modifies most of the concrete 'standard' properties and the microstructure of the obtained cement products. When designing a concrete based on low-pH binders, not only the functional requirements have to be reached but also the modifications of the basic properties of the concrete must be taken into account. Besides, due to the location and the long service life of this type of products, their durability properties must be also guaranteed. This paper deals with the procedure followed in the design of a specific application of low pH cements; for instance, the shotcrete plug fabrication. The challenge of this type of use (shotcreting) is more complex taking into account that requires the employment of additives that must be compatible with the concrete mixture. Furthermore, their effectiveness must be assured without increase the pH above the admissible levels. Therefore, their compatibility with admixtures is tested in the present work. The compliance of the requirements for a shotcrete plug was evaluated at laboratory scale and real scale, making different trials wi th the shotcrete. Parameters such as the workability of the basic concrete, the quality of fresh and hardened basic concretes, the pumpability of the mix and the properties of the hardened shotcrete were tested. Furthermore, some parameters related to the durability of the cementitious materials are being analyzed, such as the resistance of cementitious materials to long term water aggression and the influence of the high contents of mineral admixtures in the shrinkage of these cementitious materials. The results show that it is possible to obtain a low-pH shotcrete appropriate to be used in the underground facilities of a nuclear waste repository. (author)