Abstract
Handling nuclear metallic waste is a crucial issue for the nuclear industry, notably by using adapted decontamination processes. Colloidal gels can applied by spraying for the nuclear decontamination of large and plane metallic surfaces, such as walls or floors. However, this implementation mode limits their use for the decontamination of inaccessible or complex geometries surfaces. For that purpose, decontamination ferrogels have been formulated by incorporating magnetite particles in a pre-synthesized colloidal gel able to decontaminate stainless steel. Such gels can thus be attracted by a magnet, allowing its remote application on limited access surfaces. The presence of magnetite particles do not influence the inherent decontamination properties of the gel, but plays a significant role on the spreading properties by increasing the gel viscosity. Then, a linear relationship between the gel thickness and the decontamination possibilities has been highlighted. Furthermore, as the magnetite particles dissolve in the gel with time, spreading properties, and consequently the decontamination properties, are modified. Finally, a formulation compromise has to be found for a long time storage of product while maintaining its efficiency.