Investigation into the suitability of titanium as a corrosion resistant canister for nuclear waste

A literature study and inventory of experience has been carried out, aimed at assessing the possibilities of unalloyed and Pd-alloyed titanium withstanding corrosion for 1,000 to 10,000 years in contact with Baltic Sea water at 1000C and pH 4 to 10. Pitting, crevice corrosion, stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue constitute no problem if the canister is made of unalloyed titanium corresponding to ASTM Grade 1. Titanium alloyed with palladium therefore need not be used. Linear extrapolation of reported corrosion rates for oxidation and general corrosion gives a life of between 1,000 and 10,000 years for a 5 mm thick canister. This estimate must be considered to be conservative since oxidation in fact follows a logarithmic law. Hydrogen embrittlement resulting from hydrogen pick-up from the deposition environment should not occur. Delayed failure caused by a redistribution of the hydrogen initially present in the titanium can be avoided if its concentration is maximized to 20 ppM. Pd-alloyed titanium is more sensitive than unalloyed titanium to hydrogen pick-up, especially in galvanic contact with less noble metals