La diffusion chimique est un phénomène clé dans l’élaboration des verres d’intérêt nucléaire. A haute température, dans le liquide, elle permet l’homogénéisation des flux de matière (précurseurs vitreux et déchets) et conduit à la formation d’un verre homogène après refroidissement. A contrario, dans le liquide surfondu, elle peut être à l’origine de processus de séparation de phase ou de cristallisation qui doivent être contrôlés pour le bon fonctionnement du procédé. Dans cette thèse, l’influence de la diffusion chimique sur les processus de cristallisation et d’homogénéisation du liquide est étudiée pour un verre simplifié de type borosilicate de sodium entre sa température de transition vitreuse et sa température d’élaboration. Pour ce type de système, qualifié de multicomposants, la description des phénomènes diffusifs nécessite le calcul d’une matrice de diffusion prenant en compte la diffusion couplée des espèces. Ces couplages sont retranscrits au travers de mécanismes de diffusion ou « échanges diffusifs » qui sont invariants avec la température. Les énergies d’activation associées à ces échanges sont proches de l’énergie d’activation de l’écoulement visqueux ce qui montre que le flux visqueux et la diffusion chimique sont pilotés par un seul et même mécanisme en lien avec la fréquence de rupture des liaisons Si-O et B-O. Nous mettons également en évidence que dans le liquide surfondu, les échanges diffusifs primaire (SiO2-Na2O) et secondaire (SiO2-B2O3) jouent un rôle prépondérant sur la cinétique de cristallisation et la direction de croissance des phases cristallines (cristobalite et tridymite) formées dans nos systèmes. Ces résultats permettent de justifier l’évolution des gradients de compositions à proximité et loin des cristaux. Dans la dernière partie du manuscrit, une complexification des verres a été initiée en ajoutant du lanthane pour simuler un des lanthanides majoritairement présents dans la composition du verre nucléaire de référence R7T7. Les données obtenues ont révélé un couplage diffusif entre le lanthane et le silicium qui entre en compétition avec les autres couplages mis en évidence dans le ternaire SiO2-Na2O-B2O3. Ce couplage, combiné aux autres résultats de la thèse, permet d’expliquer la formation d’une phase de type borosilicate de lanthane (LaBSiO5). / Chemical diffusion is a key-phenomenon during nuclear glass synthesis. At high temperature, diffusion leads to homogenization of the melt contributing to the transformation of heterogeneous waste and frit precursors to a homogeneous glass after cooling. In contrast, in the supercooled liquid, diffusion is a critical factor affecting phase separation and/or crystallization processes that must be avoided when producing a high quality final product.In this manuscript, the impact of chemical diffusion on crystallization and liquid homogenization is studied for a simplified sodium borosilicate glass between its glass transition temperature and its synthesis temperature. For this kind of system, qualified as multicomponent, the description of diffusive phenomena requires the calculation of a diffusion matrix that takes into account diffusive couplings between species. These couplings can be written in the form of diffusive mechanisms or “diffusive exchanges” that are invariant with temperature. The activation energies associated with these exchanges are close to the activation energy of shear viscosity which suggests that viscous flow and chemical diffusion are driven by a single mechanism related to the frequency of Si-O and B-O bond breaking. It is also highlighted that in the supercooled liquid, the principal diffusive exchange (SiO2-Na2O) and the secondary diffusive exchange (SiO2-B2O3) play a significant role on the kinetics and direction of growth of crystalline phases which are formed in our system. These results are used to rationalise the evolution of compositional gradients in the vicinity and far from crystals. In the last part of this work, a complexification of the glasses was initiated by adding lanthanum to simulate one of the main lanthanides of the R7T7 nuclear glass composition. The data collected reveal diffusive couplings between lanthanum and silicon. These couplings, combined with the other results explain the formation of a lanthanum borosilicate phase (LaBSiO5).

In order to increase the waste loading efficiency of nuclear waste glasses, alternative composite structures are sought that trap molybdenum in a water-durable CaMoO4 phase. In this thesis, the formation and stability of CaMoO4 in a borosilicate glass against the attack of internal radiation was investigated. It is a fundamental study that simplified the composition to known contributors of molybdate speciation, and further splits the com- ponents of α and β-decay into integral parts that replicated both nuclear and electronic interactions. Irradiation experiments using 2.5 MeV β, 7 MeV Au, and 92 MeV Xe ions were enlisted to test the hypotheses of whether 100−1000 years of radiation damage given current waste loading standards would: (i) induce phase separation in homogeneous re- gions, (ii) increase the extent of existing phase separation, (iii) induce local annealing that could cause amorphisation of crystalline phases or increase mixing between amorphous phases, or (iv) cause some combination of the above. Results from XRD, SEM, EPR, and Raman spectroscopy suggest that powellite is stable against replicated radiation damage with only minor modifications observed. The main mechanisms of alteration involved: (i) thermal and defect-assisted diffusion, (ii) relaxation from the added ion’s energy, (iii) localised damage recovery from ion tracks, and (iv) the accumulation of point defects or the formation of voids that created significant strain, and led to longer-range modifications. It can be further concluded that no precip- itation or increased phase separation was observed in single-phased glasses. In isolated cases, radiation-induced precipitation of CaMoO4 occurred, but these crystallites were reamorphised at higher doses. At high SHI fluences, minor amorphisation of powellite was also observed, but this occurred alongside bulk-to-surface reprecipitation of CaMo- species. Overall, the components of internal radiation were often found to have opposing effects on the alteration of Si−O−B mixing in the glass, ion migration, and crystallite size. This led to the prediction that a steady-state damage structure could form from cumulative decay processes. These results suggest that CaMoO4 containing borosilicate GCs are resistant to radiation, and that excess molybdenum from increased waste loading can be successfully incorporated into these structures without altering the overall dura- bility of the wasteform. Furthermore, the identified saturation in modifications occurring around 8 x 10¹⁴ Xe ions/cm² can be used as a benchmark in future investigations on more complex systems where the maximum damage state is required.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-04-26T14:29:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 luceliacelesdesouza.pdf: 2518264 bytes, checksum: 5865f748ffb87158bf1150d3a418b955 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-05-13T12:02:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 luceliacelesdesouza.pdf: 2518264 bytes, checksum: 5865f748ffb87158bf1150d3a418b955 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-13T12:02:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 luceliacelesdesouza.pdf: 2518264 bytes, checksum: 5865f748ffb87158bf1150d3a418b955 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-23 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Os vidros borosilicato são obtidos a partir da combinação dióxido de silício (SiO2) com o óxido de boro (B2O3). Onde estes vidros possuem um vasto campo de aplicações na indústria vidreira, indo deste os setores de equipamentos de laboratórios até a criação de sensores ópticos (fibras ópticas). Pois, devido à sua forma estrutural estes vidros possuem uma grande resistência a choques térmicos, uma boa durabilidade química e uma excelente resistividade elétrica se comparados com os demais vidros existentes hoje no mercado. Assim baseando-se nestas características importantes características estruturais, físicas, químicas e também na diversidade de aplicações optou-se nesta pesquisa pela síntese e caracterização dos vidros borosilicatos puros e dopados com íons terras raras de érbio e com nitrato de prata. Com o objetivo de conhecer melhor as principais propriedades destas matrizes vítreas desenvolvidas e de como os íons emissores, as nanopartículas metálicas ou ambos se comportam quando estes se encontram inseridos nelas, ou seja, de comprovar que a inserção dos dopantes nas matrizes vítreas de borosilicato modificam tanto as suas propriedades ópticas quanto as estruturais. Assim foram utilizadas as seguintes técnicas de caracterização: análise térmica diferencial, medida de densidade, índice de refração linear, absorção óptica e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. Visto que à inserção dos íons de érbio em materiais vítreos oferece grandes possibilidades de aplicações tecnológicas nos setores das telecomunicações, com o objetivo de aumentar a capacidade de transmissão de dados. E quanto a inserção das nanopartículas de prata pode se dizer que a mesma produz efeitos ópticos não lineares de terceira ordem nos compósitos e em comprimentos de onda próximos da característica de ressonância de plasmon superficial dos aglomerados de metal. Logo, a partir dos resultados e das análises obtidas foi possível comprovar que as amostras de vidro borosilicato produzidas nesta pesquisa apresentaram resultados satisfatórios e que são similares aos encontrados nas literaturas pertinentes, mostrando que esse é um material promissor para diversas aplicações tecnológicas na área de materiais e óptica. / The borosilicate glasses are obtained from the combination of silicon dioxide (SiO2) with boron oxide (B2O3). Where these glasses have a wide range of applications in the glass industry, the sectors of going this laboratory equipment to the creation of optical (fiber optics). Because, due to its structural form these glasses have a large thermal shock resistance, good chemical durability and excellent electrical resistivity compared with other glasses on the market today. Therefore based on these important structural features, physical, chemical, and also in the variety of applications in this study was chosen for synthesis and characterization of pure borosilicate glass and doped with rare earth ions erbium and silver nitrate. In order to better understand the main properties of these glass matrices developed and how the ion emitters, or both metal nanoparticles behave when they are inserted in them, that , to prove that the insertion of dopants in borosilicate glass matrix changes both their optical and structural properties. We used the following characterization techniques: differential thermal analysis, density measurement, linear refractive index, optical absorption and transmission electron microscopy. Since the insertion of erbium ions in glassy materials has great potential for technological applications in the telecommunications, aiming to increase the capacity of data transmission. And the inclusion of silver nanoparticles nonlinear optical effect of third order in the composites and at wavelengths close to the characteristic surface plasmon resonance of the metal clusters. Thus, from the results and analysis obtained was possible to prove that the samples of borosilicate glass produced in this study showed satisfactory results that are similar to those found in the relevant literature, showing that this is a promising material for technological applications in the area of materials and optics.

Dans le cadre de la vitrification de déchets nucléaires, la connaissance et la maîtrise des propriétés structurales et dynamiques des verres incluant les radioéléments sont importantes (dans le liquide et le solide). Elles influencent notamment la qualité du colis de verre, la durée de vie du procédé de vitrification et la quantité de produits de fission qu’il est possible d’introduire. Des simulations de dynamique moléculaire ont été réalisées afin d’analyser l’influence de la composition des matrices vitreuses sur les propriétés structurales et dynamiques. Le verre nucléaire industriel R7T7 étant composé d’un trop grand nombre d’oxydes (une trentaine) pour être simulé correctement, un verre simplifié, composé des oxydes SiO2, B2O3 et Na2O (majoritaires du verre R7T7) a été préféré. L’ajout de La2O3 permet de simuler l’impact des produits de fission et les actinides mineurs sur les propriétés de la matrice vitreuse. Les deux systèmes SiO2-B2O3-Na2O et SiO2-B2O3-Na2O-La2O3 ont permis d’étudier l’effet du sodium et du lanthane sur différentes propriétés. Au cours de ces travaux, un champ de force polarisable a été développé pour réaliser les simulations. Nos calculs à température ambiante ont permis de reproduire les résultats expérimentaux de la structure, de la répartition BIII/B IV, de la densité, avec un bon accord. Une étude a été menée dans le liquide pour l’analyse de la viscosité et de la conductivité électrique. La spéciation B IV/B III et l’influence des changements structuraux sur la densité avec l’augmentation de la température ont également été observées au cours de trempes thermiques. Les limites actuelles de cette approche sont également décrites. / As result of the nuclear waste vitrification, the knowledge and understanding of the dynamic and structural properties of glasses, including the behavior of radionuclides, is important (in liquid and solid phases). It can influence the glass waste properties, the lifetime of the vitrification process and the amount of radionuclides introduced in the glass matrix. Molecular dynamic simulations have been done to study the influence of the glass matrix composition into the structural and dynamic properties of the glass. A simplified glass, with 3 major oxides of the R7T7 glass such as SiO2, B2O3 and Na2O, have been used to simulate the R7T7 industrial nuclear glass (a 30 oxides glass). The inclusion of La2O3 allows us to simulate the impact of fission products and minor actinides into the properties of the glass matrix. Both systems, the SiO2-B2O3-Na2O and SiO2-B2O3-Na2O-La2O3, allow us to study the sodium and lanthanum effect on the properties of the glass. During this work, a polarizable force field has been developed to do these simulations. The results obtained at room temperature let us reproduce the experimental results of the structure, the distribution of BIII/BIV and the density. A study has been done on the viscosity and electrical conductivity of the liquid. The distribution BIV/BIII and the influence of the structural changes on the density along with the temperature have also been observed with thermal quenchings. The current limits of this approach are also described.

The focus of this work is to investigate the dissolution of MW25, a non-radioactive simulant of UK high-level nuclear waste borosilicate glass, and to predict its performance in the near field of a geological repository. A single-pass flow-through (SPFT) experimental system was used to measure the forward dissolution rates of MW25. Experiments were conducted in two parts. Experiment Part 1 considers the dissolution of the waste glass in deionised water at 40 and 90 oC and circum-neutral pH. Experiment Part 2 considers the dissolution of the waste glass in simulant groundwaters, with similar compositions to groundwaters of Callovo-Oxfordian clay (lower-strength sedimentary rock (LSSR)) and Borrowdale Volcanic Group rocks (higher-strength rock (HSR)), at 40 oC and pH 7. The forward dissolution rate measured in deionised water was found to be approximately one order of magnitude higher at 90 oC than at 40 oC. A similar release was observed for Si, Mg and Al at 40 oC and 90 oC, whereas the B, Cs, Na, Li and Mo showed an order of magnitude increase when the temperature was increased from 40 to 90 oC for low q/S values. The activation energy (Ea) of the reactions shows that the dissolution process is a surface phenomenon. At 90 oC the net effect of the processes governing MW25 dissolution led to the preferential release of boron and alkali metals relative to the release of Si during the transient dissolution stage, accompanied by an increase in the concentration of silicic acid. This suggests that the solution activity of silicic acid at a higher temperature has a weak influence on the release of the mobile elements. The forward dissolution rate measured in LSSR simulant groundwater was found to be slightly higher than that measured in HSR simulant groundwater. The dissolution behaviour of MW25 in both groundwaters is consistent with its behaviour in deionised water at 40 oC, with the dissolution rates of elements increasing as flow rates were increased. However, forward dissolution rates measured in the simulant groundwaters were lower than the forward dissolution rates measured in deionised water under these experimental conditions. This is attributable to the interaction of the components of the simulant groundwaters with the glass, as revealed by post-reaction surface analyses, and a consequential lower alkalinity of the leachates collected in the experiments with simulant groundwater than in deionised water. Reactive chemical transport simulations of waste glass dissolution and radionuclide release in a hypothetical near field were conducted over a time span of a million years with GoldSim. The results showed that enclosing the waste glass in a steel canister covered by a copper canister and emplacing the waste package in a granite host rock is optimal for the long-term isolation of the radionuclides. The waste glass was found to play a significant role in the overall performance of the near field. This study features a new method for estimating the surface area of reacted glass powder more accurately than the geometric surface area estimate, which is the preferred standard method among researchers.