Corrosion property of iron phosphate simulated HLW melts

The dynamic corrosion rate of six commercial refractories was measured in the iron phosphate melts containing simulated HLW and a borosilicate melt (DWPF) at temperatures from 1000 to 1300 °C. A dense alumina and a chrome refractory had the lowest melt-line corrosion rate in the iron phosphate melts, whereas the corrosion rate for silica, zircon, and alumina-zirconiasilica(AZS) refractories was somewhat high. In general, the corrosion rate for the alumina and chrome refractory in the iron phosphate melts was no higher than their corrosion rate in the DWPF melt now used at the Savannah River Site. For the chrome refractory, the corrosion rate in three iron phosphate melts containing simulated HLW waste was under 0.1mm/day at the melt line. It is concluded that commercially manufactured, dense alumina or chrome refractories can be acceptable for melting many iron phosphate composition, even in wastes containing up to 16 weight percent soda.