Two water extended polyester (WEP) resins were prepared and used as incorporation media for simulated spent ion exchange resin used at the Inshas Reactor (Egypt). The suitability of the final waste forms to fulfil the requirements needed for the final disposal has been tested under different experimental conditions. Factors affecting the mechanical stability of the end products such as damp ion exchange resin/polymer ratio, styrene content, type and concentration of initiator were investigated. Radiation stability of polymer waste forms incorporating inactive resin was studied. The samples showed a significant increase in compressive strength values with an increase in irradiation dose, until a maximum is reached at a dose rate of 2.5 x 10 8 rads. At higher irradiation doses the values decreased, but they were still higher than those of unirradiated ones. The resistance of WEP resins as well as their final waste forms to most chemical environments was excellent. Oxygen index values illustrated the flame retardancy of WEP waste forms. Leaching experiments on incorporated blocks of active resin labelled with Cs-137 and Co-60 showed that improved leach resistance was obtained by using deionized water at University of Manitoba Libraries on June 14, 2015 jep.sagepub.com Downloaded from 364 as the leaching solution rather than underground water. The leach factors for Cs-137 were always higher than those for Co-60 using either leachants.

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The fraction released of radioactive cesium from waste forms (obtained by incorporating a given amount of simulated labelled waste materials into cement) was greater than that released when introducing the same amount of waste into a preformed cement container. Moreover, improving cement containers using chemical treatment or additives (organic or inorganic) lowers the fraction released. The effect of waste materials on cement hydration and on the properties of the obtained products has been studied. To improve repository performance it is therefore preferable to ameliorate the confinement properties of preformed cement containers rather than radioactive waste forms. In improving waste forms we are dealing with a complicated system resulting from the interaction of waste materials with cement besides allowing extra doses to workers and finally increasing the final total coasts.

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