Electrochemical behaviour of copper-nickel alloys as immobilisation matrices for the storage of fission products in CO2-enriched synthetic groundwater

International audience; The surface properties of nickel and copper alloys exposed to simulated French Callovo-Oxfordien ground-water (aerated and CO2-saturated solutions) have been evaluated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in conjunction with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The kinetic reactions and physical properties of the layers grown on the alloy's surfaces, change versus the Ni content in the alloys and the presence of CO2 in the solution. Nickel alloys retain favourable passive properties in such environments, whereas oxide products on copper alloys are insufficiently protective when formed in the absence of dissolved oxygen in the electrolyte. A maximum addition of 30…