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The Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) is about to process High Level Waste (HLW) Sludge Batch 4 (SB4). This sludge batch is high in alumina and nepheline can crystallize readily depending on the glass composition. Large concentrations of crystallized nepheline can have an adverse effect on HLW glass durability. Several studies have been performed to study the potential for nepheline formation in SB4. The Phase 3 Nepheline Formation study of SB4 glasses examined sixteen different glasses made with four different frits. Melt rate experiments were performed by the Process Science and Engineering Section (PS&E) of the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) using the four frits from the Phase 3 work, plus additional high B 2 O 3 /high Fe 2 O 3 frits. Preliminary results from these tests showed the potential for significant improvements in melt rate for SB4 glasses using a higher B 2 O 3 -containing frit, particularly Frit 503. The main objective of this study was to investigate the durability of SB4 glasses produced with a high B 2 O 3 frit likely to be recommended for SB4 processing. In addition, a range of waste loadings (WLs) was selected to continue to assess the effectiveness of a nepheline discriminator in predicting concentrations of nepheline crystallization that would be sufficient to influence the durability response of the glass. Five glasses were selected for this study, covering a WL range of 30 to 50 wt% in 5 wt% increments.The Frit 503 glasses were batched and melted. Specimens of each glass were heat-treated to simulate cooling along the centerline of a DWPF-type canister (ccc) to gauge the effects of thermal history on product performance. Visual observations on both quenched and ccc glasses were documented. A representative sample from each glass was submitted to the SRNL Process Science Analytical Laboratory (PSAL) for chemical analysis to confirm that the as-fabricated glasses corresponded to the defined target compositions. The Product Consistency Test (PCT, ASTM C1285) was performed in triplicate on each Frit 503 quenched and ccc glass to assess chemical durability. The experimental test matrix also included the Environmental Assessment (EA) glass and the Approved Reference Material (ARM-1) glass. Representative samples of all the ccc glasses were examined for homogeneity visually and by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.Chemical composition measurements indicated that the experimental glasses were close to their target compositions. PCT results showed that all of the Fit 503 quenched glasses had an acceptable durability compared to the EA benchmark glass. The durability of one of the ccc glasses, NEPHB-04, was statistically greater than its quenched counterpart. However, this was shown to be of little practical significance, as the durability of the NEPHB-04 ccc glass was acceptable when compared to the durability of the EA benchmark glass.Visual observations and PCT results indicated that all of the Frit 503 quenched glasses were free of any crystallization that impacts durability. Fo...

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