Digital autoradiography on C-14-labelled PMMA impregnated rock samples using the BeaverTM. (26th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Voutilainen, Mikko; Sammaljärvi, Juuso; Muuri, Eveliina; Donnard, Jérôme; Duval, Samuel; Siitari-Kauppi, Marja
• Is Part Of: MRS advances. Volume 3:Number 21(2018)
• Page Start: 1161
• Page End: 1166
• Publication Date: 2018-02-26
• Subjects: microstructure, -- porosity, -- geologic; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/adv.2018.226
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-8521

Abstract

Abstract : In Finland and Sweden the KBS-3 concept has been chosen for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel in crystalline rock. Recent experiments have shown that heterogeneity of rock may play a major role in the transport of radionuclides. Autoradiographic methods have been proven to be able to assist the characterization of heterogeneous structures. In this study we tested a novel filmless autoradiographic device called Beaver TM which applies a micro patterned gaseous detector in order to quantitatively map beta emissions from C-14 atoms. The studied samples were impregnated with C-14-labelled methylmethacrylate (C-14-MMA) and polymerized to C-14-PMMA with thermal initiator. The Beaver TM was then used to determine the spatial distribution of the C-14-PMMA by measuring the C-14 emissions. The porosity is determined from the amount of C-14-PMMA in the rock sample and results were compared to ones from phosphor imaging plate autoradiography. The resulting images show a heterogeneous distribution of porosity which arises from the different minerals. The samples were chosen from three sites that have been used recently for in situ diffusion experiments: Olkiluoto (Finland), Äspö (Sweden) and Grimsel (Switzerland).