Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Radiation damage due to a α-decay of actinides will modify the material used to store nuclear wastes. For example, ionization-induced processes can fragment the oxide bonds of a glass thereby creating gas bubbles. Phase decomposition, swelling, and disordering of crystalline phases are other possibilities. The self-irradiation damage could also affect the fracture properties of the storage materials. Spontaneous failure and fragmentation of some brittle materials have been observed during storage. Yet the problem of fracture of irradiated waste materials has received very limited attention.