Comparison of glass and crystalline nuclear waste forms

Nuclear waste forms may be divided into two broad categories: single phase glasses with minor crystalline components (e.g., borosilicate glasses) and crystalline waste forms, either single phase (e.g., monazite) or polyphase (e.g., SYNROC). This paper reviews the materials properties data that are available for each of these two types of waste forms. The principal data include: physical, thermal and mechanical properties, chemical durability; and radiation damage effects. Complete data are only available for borosilicate glasses and SYNROC; therefore, this comparison focuses on the performance assessment of borosilicate glass and SYNROC