PENGARUH PANAS DAN RADIASI TERHADAP KETAHANAN POLIMER EPOKSI YANG MENGANDUNG LIMBAH URANIUM

Abstract

ABSTRACT Rafinat waste from extraction of uranium has very long half life of U and is a radioactive waste that must be managed so it not causing radiological impact to humans and environment. Rafinat waste absorbed and immobilized by a epoxy polymer resin on 30% content of waste, then stored in interm storage (temporary storage). In the temporary storage, waste get radiation exposure from the surrounding environment that has result in heat and radiation that may result in changes in the characteristics of the waste polymer (density, compressive strength, and the rate of leaching). Polymer waste that heated at temperature of 100 o and 200 o C in 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 hours has decreasing density and compressive strength,but increasing the rate of leaching. At temperature of 300 o C for 2 and 4 hours, polymer waste has been broken, melted, and change color to black so density, compressive strength, and the rate of leachete test can not be done. Polymer waste that irradiated by gamma at doses of 40, 80, 120, and 160 kGy have constant density value or there is no change, compressive strength of polymer waste that irradiated at dose of 40 kGy is increasing if compare with 0 kGy dose of polymer waste, and the rate of leaching of polymer waste that irradiated at dose of 40 kGy have undetectable levels output of radionuclides leachete, while the compressive strength and the rate of leaching has decrease after the polymer waste has irradiated at doses > 80 kGy. Value of density, compressive strength, and rate of leaching due to the influence of alpha radiation time changes for 1, 2, and 3-month, but changes of value of density, compressive strength, and the rate of leaching that occurred is small so it can be said to be constant or unchanged against characteristics of polymer waste. Keywords: uranium waste, heat, epoxy polymers, radiation