The kinetics of copper corrosion in nitric acid

The strategy for the permanent disposal of high‐level nuclear waste in Canada involves sealing it in a copper‐coated steel container and burying it in a deep geologic repository. During the early emplacement period, the container could be exposed to warm humid air, which could result in the condensa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials and corrosion 2021-01, Vol.72 (1-2), p.348-360
Main Authors: Turnbull, Joseph, Szukalo, Ryan, Zagidulin, Dmitrij, Biesinger, Mark, Shoesmith, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anodic dissolution
Containers
Copper
Copper compounds
corrosion
Corrosion potential
Dissolution
electrochemistry
Kinetics
Nitrates
Nitric acid
nuclear waste disposal
Oxidation
Oxygen
Photoelectrons
Radioactive wastes
Radiolysis
Reaction kinetics
Reduction
Waste disposal
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Summary:The strategy for the permanent disposal of high‐level nuclear waste in Canada involves sealing it in a copper‐coated steel container and burying it in a deep geologic repository. During the early emplacement period, the container could be exposed to warm humid air, which could result in the condensation of nitric acid, produced by the radiolysis of the humid air, on the copper surface. Previous studies have suggested that both nitrate and oxygen reduction will drive copper corrosion, with the nitrate reduction kinetics being dependent on the concentration of soluble copper(I) produced by the anodic dissolution of copper in the reaction with oxygen. This study focused on determining the kinetics of nitrate and oxygen reduction and elucidating the synergistic relationship between the two processes. This was investigated using corrosion potential and polarization measurements in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Oxygen reduction was shown to be the dominant cathodic reaction with the oxidation of copper(I) to copper(II) by nitrate, promoting the catalytic cycle involving the reaction of copper(II) with copper to reproduce copper(I). This study focused on determining the kinetics of nitrate and oxygen reduction and elucidating the synergistic relationship between the two processes. This was investigated using corrosion potential and polarization measurements in conjunction with SEM and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Oxygen reduction was shown to be the dominant cathodic reaction with the oxidation of copper(I) to copper(II).
ISSN:0947-5117
1521-4176
DOI:10.1002/maco.202011707