Cement-waste interactions: Hardening self-compacting mortar exposed to gamma radiation

• How does gamma radiation influence the hardening process of self-compacting mortar?
• Study performed to increase the reliability of the supercontainer concept.
• The hydration and hardening process of mortar is disturbed by gamma radiation.
• A mean strength decrease of approximately 8% is found.
• Gamma radiation affects the internal microstructure of the cementitious material.

For the disposal of high level radioactive waste and for attenuation of the emitted radiation, the Belgian supercontainer concept considers the use of cylindrical concrete containers: the radwaste (encapsulated in a canister and stainless steel overpack) is embedded in a hardened self-compacting concrete buffer, and for closure of the supercontainer the remaining gap is filled by casting a self-compacting mortar (filler and lid). As a consequence, this cementitious layer, surrounding the radwaste, will be exposed immediately to the heat-emitting radioactive waste and gamma radiation with dose rates up to 20 Gy/h during hardening and hydration of the cementitious matrix.In this research study, the effect of gamma radiation on the mechanical properties (e.g. compressive strength) and the microstructure of the cementitious samples is investigated thoroughly. By means of compressive strength determination and by analysing the microstructure of the cementitious samples, the effect of gamma radiation during the hardening process of the samples is identified. Small self-compacting mortar cubes were cast and irradiated immediately by gamma rays during hardening. The effect of the total absorbed dose (Gy) and the applied dose rate (Gy/h), in combination with different hardening times at first exposure and total irradiation times is determined. Furthermore, the impact of the composition of the cementitious mortar (e.g. by changing the cement type and the water-to-cement ratio (W/C-ratio)) is investigated.Throughout the test program it was found that a strength loss due to gamma irradiation can be expected, influenced by the total received dose and by the applied dose rate. Furthermore, the age at which irradiation starts (hardening time at first exposure), plays a role in the effect of the gamma irradiation. A correlation between the strength of the mortar samples and its microstructure is found by means of fluorescence microscopy on thin sections and nitrogen adsorption tests: by applying gamma radiation the capillary porosity, the pore volume distribution and the specific surface of the pores is affected. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also revealed a change in microstructure due to gamma radiation.