Nuclear fuel waste management and archaeology: are ancient glasses indicators of long term durability of man made materials

Glass, ceramics, and glass ceramics are being investigated as hosts for nuclear fuel recycle waste. The assessment of their long term durability under environmental conditions prevailing in a nuclear waste disposal vault is vital to evaluating the integrity and safety of the waste isolation system. Ancient glasses which have survived exposure to a variety of environmental conditions over thousands of years may give valuable information on the performance of nuclear waste glasses. The burial conditions of the former, however, fail to simulate those of the latter. Therefore, only qualitative conclusions can be drawn about the likely performance of candidate glasses for immobilising nuclear fuel waste. (author)