From bentonite powder to engineered barrier units - an industrial process

In the framework of the ESDRED Project, a consortium, called GME, dealt with the study and development of all required industrial processes for the fabrication of scale-1 buffer rings and discs, as well as all related means for transporting and handling the rings, the assembly in 4-unit sets, the packaging of buffer-ring assemblies, and all associated procedures. In 2006, a 100-t mould was built in order to compact in a few hours 12 rings and two discs measuring 2.3 m in diameter and 0.5 m in height, and weighing 4 t each. The ring-handling, assembly and transport means were tested successfully in 2007. (author)