Degradation of sPVC and Aromatic Polyether Urethane Bags Used in Nuclear Applications.

Plasticized suspension polyvinyl chloride (sPVC) bags are commonly used in combination with metal containers to transport and store nuclear materials. The nuclear material is first packed into an appropriate stainless-steel container that is placed into a plastic bag-out bag, and further positioned into a second metal container. One important drawback of using sPVC, is that it can degrade under severe conditions and release hydrochloric acid that will affect the integrity of the metal containers. In this work, we have exposed sPVC, along with aromatic polyether urethane (APU-ether), a promising alternative to sPVC, to accelerated aging by subjecting to alpha, gamma and thermal conditions to simulate the harsh environments normally encountered in the storage of nuclear materials. Mechanical, physical and chemical properties including changes in hydrophobicity were evaluated before and after exposures. These results show that APU-ether is more durable under thermal aging and irradiation than sPVC and provide new insights into the durability of polymer materials for nuclear storage. This study will serve as the foundation for a rational selection of new bag-out bag materials to be considered in the industry.