Highly compacted bentonite: a self-healing substance for nuclear waste isolation

Granular Na bentonite acquires considerable microstructural homogeneity through water and particle redistribution processes. This yields a very low permeability and thus excellent barrier functions in repositories. This self-healing property also means that large bentonite volumes tend to reach a homogeneous condition. Thus, local voids or inhomogeneities produced, for instance, by minor displacement of the surrounding rock will be healed. The swelling potential also means that a perfect contact is established between the clay barrier and the rock