DAMIEN GUILLAUME · High resolution nanoscale study of the smectite-chlorite transition.

Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.

Накратко на български

Цел на проекта

Smectite clays are a candidate for use as backfill materials in the construction of high-level nuclear waste repositories because of their swelling, hydraulic and sorption properties. However, their stability is not ensured after the predicted evolution of thethermo-physico-chemical conditions of a storage site. According to the observation of natural geological systems, smectites could partly transform to chlorites and consequently lose their sealing capacities. The prediction of the transformation of smectite, its kinetics and implications to the repository site requires a detailed knowledge of the smetite-to-chlorite mechanism and the different parameters involved. Different mechanisms have been proposed from the observation of natural samples, but the parameters could not predetermine precisely. The objective of this proposal is to use experimental samples to determine the mechanism of the smectite-to-chlorite transition at the particle nanometre scale by using two different high resolution instruments:( i ) Transmission Electron Microscopy in which High Resolution imaging, Energy Filtered imaging and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy can be carried out, and(ii) Atomic Force Microscopy. The advantage of experimental samples is that the conditions are well calibrated and can be modified to test the influence of different parameters. The Host Institute is involved in microscopic studies of transformation processes I using Transmission Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. This combination is a powerful and novel way to study the mechanisms of mineral transformations, since information about the surface structure; the chemical changes taking place, as well as any surface reconstruction can be obtained. These techniques are necessary for me to extend my Ph. D. work from the macroscopic to the microscopic. Muenster is also a centre for this type of work with a very active research group and regular workshops and it will give me an opportunity of integrating my work into a wider community. The Muenster group has worked on simple salts and is now beginning to work on silicate dissolution mechanisms. I have experience in macroscopic experiments in silicates and their interpretation and will be able to integrate this work into their projects . Thus I expect that both the Institute and I will benefit.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

• WESTFAELISCHE WILHELMS - UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER · MUENSTERКоординаторГермания

Връзки

• Виж в CORDIS