GAMMA-IRRADIATION-INDUCED MODIFICATIONS OF POLYMERS FOUND IN NUCLEAR WASTE EMBEDDING PROCESSES .2. THE ION-EXCHANGE RESIN

Ion exchange resins (IERs) saturated in cesium and berate ions are wel l representative of low and medium activity nuclear waste to be embedd ed in an epoxy resin/amine hardener, such a conditioning procedure bei ng under qualification. In order to test these materials in realistic conditions they are externally irradiated (air and water), in mixed be ds saturated in fixed ions (cesium and berate) and water. Irradiation effects are evidenced with the HSF-SIMS technique by the variation of the emission characteristic of both the fixed ions, the chemical struc ture of the IERs and their interrelationship, both from the analysis o f the solid material and of the residual or rinsing water. It appears that the fixed ions can be released in surrounding water as a conseque nce of radiation-induced resin fragments solubility. (C) 1997 Publishe d by Elsevier Science B.V.