Titanium Corrosion under Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Disposal Conditions

Abstract

The crevice corrosion behavior of ASTM Grade-2 titanium is described using short- term test data, immersion test data, and simple mathematical models. The corrosion propagation rate is shown to be time dependent, decreasing with time due to oxygen starvation. Gamma radiation appears to decrease the corrosion rate, due to depolarisation of the crevice. A simple treatment of the crevice corrosion process leads to the expectation that a reasonable cervice corrosion allowance can be made for a titanium disposal container.