MATERIALS MODIFICATIONS INC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 40b

Description

About 20% of the U.S. electricity need is provided by nuclear energy. Nuclear waste management is a critical part of nuclear power. Large nuclear waste treatment processing plants are in operation in the United States in which low-level (LLW) and high-level waste (HLW), including spent fuel (S.F.), is isolated from the biosphere for long-term safety. The spent fuel rods from nuclear reactors are removed from the reactor core after the usage time. The spent fuel rods continue to generate heat for several years and need to be cooled. Typically, the spent fuel rods are moved to dry storage canisters (casks), lowering the risk from spent fuels on reactor sites. Dry storage canisters (DSC) are typically made up of steel inner liner and are susceptible to corrosion. These storage canisters may be in service for over four decades. Therefore, the safety of these canisters during storage from corrosion is a potential concern. There is a potential for corrosion and cracking of the outer wall over several years of usage that may need fixing. In the proposed Phase I effort, a durable super-repellent corrosion-resistant powder coating will be developed. Current superhydrophobic/oleophobic surface treatments are based on solvent-based coatings and have poor adhesion and durability. These coatings also thin and removed easily from the coated surfaces. In this project, solvent-free, durable corrosion-resistant superhydrophobic/oleophobic coating will be developed using powder coating technology. In the Phase I effort, the powder coating formulation(s) and polymer binders will be optimized for strong adhesion to the stainless-steel surface and curing parameters. The corrosion protection and radiation shielding capabilities of the patch materials and paint products will be evaluated and optimized. In the Phase II effort, long-duration stability testing will be conducted, and system-level optimization will be carried out. At the end of the Phase II project, a field- repairable product for long-term storage and maintenance of Dry Storage Canisters will be used in spent fuel rods storage sites. Large nuclear waste treatment processing plants are in operation in the United States in which low-level (LLW) and high-level waste (HLW), including spent fuel (S.F.), is isolated from the biosphere for long- term safety. The proposed corrosion prevention products will help in increasing the lifetime of spent fuel storage tanks. The product developed could also be used for any metal container carrying hazardous materials. The superhydrophobic powder coating can also be used in outdoor furniture and equipment that are susceptible to corrosion due to their constant exposure to moisture.