URANIUM: Canada’s nuclear waste body develops safer fuel containers

TORONTO – Copper is now being used to clad used nuclear fuel containers – or UFCs – so that it is safe to store them. Experts from Canada’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization designed, developed and manufactured a first-of-a-kind system that allows coating the containers with copper through an electroplating process, something that is expected to prevent corrosion. To produce such a result, the used fuel containers are immersed in a copper-based electroplating solution for approximately 10 days. During this time, copper cladding four to five millimetres thick forms. “The Nanovate Testing System (NTS) tank is purpose-built specifically to coat our used fuel containers with copper,” Derek Wilson, chief engineer and VP of contract management at the NWMO, said in a media statement. “Many factors – such as temperature, chemical solution and surface finish – can affect the outcome. With careful consideration of these factors, we have had success.” According to Wilson, the copper-clad used fuel container is part of NWMO’s multiple barrier system of naturally occurring and engineered barriers working together to ensure safety in a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel. This story first appeared on www.Mining.com.