Document ID: EPA-HQ-RCRA-2002-0029-0012
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2003-01-29T05:00Z

EKOR
was
created
by
a
team
of
nuclear
scientists
from
the
I.
V.
Kurchatov
Research
Center
and
the
EuroAsian
Physical
Society
to
specifically
address
the
problems
resulting
from
the
nuclear
accident
of
Reactor
4
at
Chernobyl,
Ukraine
in
1986.
As
EKOR
neared
the
final
stages
of
development
in
1995,
EUROTECH,
Ltd.
was
formed
to
provide
the
support
necessary
to
complete
this
important
project.

After
years
of
performance
testing
verified
the
radiation­
resistance
properties
of
EKOR,
Eurotech
adopted
a
simple
three­
step
strategy
to
commercialize
EKOR
­
first,
apply
EKOR
at
Chernobyl
in
the
application
for
which
it
was
created;
second,
transfer
the
EKOR
technology
to
the
U.
S.
for
production
and
use
in
a
variety
of
nuclear
and
hazardous
waste
remediation
projects;
and
third,
make
EKOR
available
for
worldwide
waste
management.

EKOR
is
the
only
long­
term
encapsulant
certified
by
the
Ukrainian
government
and
applied
at
Chernobyl's
failed
Reactor
4.
EUROTECH,
Ltd.
is
a
leader
in
the
development
of
emerging
chemical
and
environmental
technologies
The
Company
works
with
scientists,
engineers
and
research
institutes
to
identify
and
commercialize
products
and
processes
whose
unique
or
superior
characteristics
have
the
potential
to
create
high
commercial
value.
A
U.
S.­
based
company,
Eurotech
has
assembled
a
portfolio
of
products
that
have
widespread
market
applications.

EKOR
 
,
a
family
of
advanced
materials
for
nuclear
and
hazardous
waste
containment,
is
the
first
technology
that
Eurotech
has
brought
to
market.
EKOR
is
an
advanced
silicone
polymer
composite
that
is
the
most
effective
means
of
preventing
radioactive
contaminants
from
spreading.
EKOR
 
Application
at
Chernobyl
Applied
in
March
2000
to
one
of
the
most
critical
fuel­
containing
mass
at
Chernobyl,
EKOR
is
demonstrating
its
superior
encapsulation
properties
in
a
high
radiation
environment.

U.
S.
 
produced
EKOR
has
undergone
a
rigorous
testing
program
to
confirm
its
unique
performance
properties
under
conditions
in
which
other
materials
could
not
endure.
Independent
laboratories
working
to
NQA­
1
standards
have
confirmed
its
superior
performance
in
leachresistance
(
more
than
twice
the
NRC
standard),
chemical­
resistance,
adhesion,
permeability,
outgassing
(
no
hydrogen),
aging,
fire­
resistance
and
non­
toxicity.
Several
EKOR
forms
are
currently
being
successfully
demonstrated
at
DOE
sites.
EKOR
is
the
only
product
to
successfully
encapsulate
one
of
Chernobyl's
most
critical
radioactive
fuel
containing
masses.

Brief
History
of
EKOR
 
Corporate
Background
 
Highly
Radiation­
Resistant
The
EKOR
family
of
products
has
undergone
radiation­
resistance
testing
to
an
accumulated
dosage
of
10
billion
rads.
No
other
material
on
the
market
has
successfully
undergone
such
extensive
radiation
testing.
EKOR
is
nuclear
safe
and
does
not
become
radioactive
after
exposure.
If
EKOR
has
not
been
in
direct
contact
with
a
radioactive
material,
it
may
be
disposed
as
municipal
waste.

 
Low
Out­
Gassing
Even
when
exposed
to
radiation,
EKOR
materials
have
very
low
out­
gassing
emissions,
approaching
those
of
Portland
cement,
and
do
not
present
a
fire
or
explosion
hazard.

 
Fire­
Resistance
EKOR
products
are
proven
to
be
highly
resistant
to
ignition
and
flame
spread
and
develop
little
smoke.
The
EKOR
family
of
Geopolymers
employs
a
revolutionary
silicone
block
copolymer
as
the
key
building
block
of
its
individual
forms.
This
polymer
base
was
created
to
have
exceptional
radiation
and
chemical
resistance.
The
addition
of
selected
fillers
and
catalysts
creates
unique
forms
that
can
be
pumped,
poured
or
sprayed
and
are
adaptable
to
individual
project
requirements.

EKOR
products
and
services
have
been
developed
under
a
Quality
Assurance
Plan
that
meets
the
requirements
of
NQA­
1.
Each
formulation
has
completed
or
is
in
the
process
of
completing
performance
testing
conducted
by
certified
independent
laboratories.

The
distinctive
properties
of
block
copolymers
give
EKOR
materials
performance
benefits
over
other
polymer
and
encapsulation
technologies.
Other
fixatives
and
foams
are
available
for
shortterm
use,
but
no
other
product
can
match
the
combined
durability,
ease
of
use
and
strength
of
EKOR
for
in­
situ
stabilization
or
storage.
EKOR
is
able
to
solidify
a
variety
of
low
and
high
level
liquid
and
mixed
waste
streams
and
associated
corrosive
chemicals.

EKOR
applications
range
from
in­
situ
stabilization,
D
&
D,
containment
and
encapsulation
to
transportation
and
final
storage
and
disposal.
EKOR
 
can
also
assist
in
resolving
the
special
challenges
faced
by
operating
reactors
in
nuclear
power
plants
and
research
facilities,
uranium/
thorium
and
other
mining
venues,
nuclear
medicine
and
the
chemical
industry.

 
Resistance
to
Environmental
Aging
EKOR
is
long­
lasting
and
extremely
resistant
to
degradation
caused
by
challenging
environmental
conditions.
Even
in
corrosive
alkaline
or
acidic
conditions
or
chemically
aggressive
environments,
EKOR
remains
structurally
intact.

 
Non­
Toxic
In
both
its
applied
and
cured
forms,
EKOR
is
a
non­
toxic
material.

 
High
Surface
Adhesion
EKOR
adheres
to
almost
anything,
including
rusty,
corroded
and
wet
surfaces,
and
will
cure
underwater.

 
Effective
Barrier
This
family
of
products
has
very
low
permeability
and
no
detectable
leachability
The
EKOR
 
Advantage
EKOR
 
SILICONE­
BASED
GEOPOLYMERS
Eurotech
can
supply
EKOR
as
a
coating
or
sealing
agent
with
varying
viscosity
and
as
flexible
or
rigid
foam.
EKOR
properties
are
easily
customized
to
meet
customer
requirements
and
constraints.

EKOR
 
Grout
&
Matrix
EKOR
Grout
is
applied
in
a
"
pour
and
mix"
fashion
to
microencapsulate
assorted
dry
wastes,
including
metal
components,
sorbents
and
resins.
Grout
produces
an
unleachable
monolith
for
transportation
and
disposal
when
mixed
with
dust,
ashes,
salts
and
other
fine
solids
in
a
1:
4­
1:
6
ratio.

EKOR
Matrix
is
used
with
high
and
low
level
liquid
wastes
and
some
dry
wastes.
The
versatile
EKOR
Matrix
is
also
applied
by
a
"
pour
and
mix"
method.
Liquid
solutions
and
slurries
containing
sediments
and
other
fine
solids
can
be
combined
with
EKOR
Matrix
in
a
1:
1
ratio
EKOR
 
Sealer
EKOR
Sealer
is
used
as
a
macroencapsulant
to
coat
large
or
small
containers
or
to
repair
corroded
drums
or
boxes.
This
formulation
is
applied
by
brush
or
sprayer
and
can
penetrate
cracks
and
crevices
greater
than
1
mm.
It
will
solidify
on
surfaces
up
to
120
°
C.
Sealer
can
be
used
to
repair
spent
fuel
pools
and
seal
parts
that
are
stored
underwater.

EKOR
 
Coating
EKOR
Coating
effectively
isolates
contaminated
facilities
and
equipment
surfaces
when
applied
with
a
brush
or
sprayer.
It
functions
as
a
provisional
seal
and
may
be
used
on
units
that
will
later
be
reactivated
or
further
decommissioned.

EKOR
 
Foam
EKOR
Foam
isolates
and
contains
loose
contaminants
in
hard
to
access
areas
such
as
ducts
and
pipes.
The
density
of
the
foam
can
be
modified
to
achieve
individual
site
objectives.
EKOR
 
Products
Production
Facilities
Eurotech's
manufactring
partner
for
production
of
EKOR
is
NuSil
Silicone
Technology
a
leading
supplier
of
silicones
to
the
aerospace
and
healthcare
industries
that
is
headquartered
in
Carpinteria,
California,
with
European
operations
in
Anglet,
France.
NuSil
is
an
ISO
9001
certified
company
with
over
250
employees
and
an
extensive
worldwide
customer
base.
Eurotech's
engineers,
project
managers
and
quality
technicians
support
the
successful
application
of
EKOR
products.
In
addition,
Eurotech
has
formed
strategic
partnerships
with
other
industry
leaders
to
guarantee
customer
satisfaction.

Eurotech
has
partnered
with
Florida
International
University's
Hemispheric
Center
for
Environmental
Technology
(
HCET)
to
formalize
and
test
application
procedures,
develop
training
methods,
and
establish
and
monitor
an
applicator
certification
program.

HCET
was
chosen
by
the
U.
S.
Department
of
Energy
to
facilitate
technology
integration
into
remediation
and
waste
management
programs.

Eurotech
can
customize
product
forms
and
application
services
to
meet
the
needs
of
specific
nuclear
waste
applications.
Eurotech
currently
offers
the
basic
services
summarized
below.

 
Application
Equipment
Eurotech's
engineers
work
with
HCET
to
ensure
that
the
EKOR
equipment
specifications
and
application
procedures
are
consistent
with
U.
S.
nuclear
standards
and
practices

 
Training
EKOR
products
must
be
applied
by
certified
applications
technicians.
HCET
has
developed
and
codified
the
training
procedures
required
for
field
application
and
will
certify
companies
and
personnel
upon
completion
of
the
formal
applicator
certification
program.

 
Project
Management
Eurotech
works
with
vendors,
suppliers
and
contractors
to
meet
site­
specific
project
requirements.
Eurotech
serves
as
a
liaison
between
its
customers
and
partners
to
facilitate
timely
delivery
of
both
EKOR
products
and
applications
equipment.
 
Engineering
Support
Engineering
services,
conducted
under
a
Quality
Assurance
Plan
that
meets
the
requirements
of
NQA­
1,
include
providing
technical
support
to
waste
managers
and
waste
management
contractors
for
EKOR
application
equipment
fabrication,
mixing
and
application.
Services
also
include
postapplication
inspections
and
testing.
EKOR
 
Services
Overview
Coupons
of
U.
S.­
produced
EKO
Sealer
were
subjected
to
a
series
of
tests
designed
to
illustrate
its
performance
under
a
wide
variety
of
environments.
The
tests
were
performed
by
independent
certified
laboratories
under
a
Quality
Assurance
program
approved
by
the
Nuclear
Regulatory
Commission.
Following
is
a
summary
of
key
parts
of
the
test
results.

Product
Performance
Testing
1.
Chemical
Resistance
(
ASTM
D
3912)
In
this
test
three
coupons
were
placed
in
each
of
twenty
separate
chemical
solutions
(
60
coupons
total)
for
a
duration
of
30
days
each.
The
solutions
and
their
pH
were:
N2H4
(
9.47),
Borax
(
9.15),
deionized
water
(
7.93),
Boric
acid
(
5.31),
Sulfuric
acid
(
1.25),
H2O2
(
2.74),
Na3PO4
(
10.71),
Aluminum
Sulfate
(
3.14),
Calcium
Nitrate
(
6.12),
CrCl2
(
2.94),
FeCl2
(
2.07),
MnSO4
(
7.15),
NaOH
(
11.21),
Pb(
NO3)
2
(
5.37),
Si2Cl4
(
0.36),
Na2CO3
(
10.43),
NaNO2
(
8.54),
ZrSO4
(
1.04),
K3PO4
(
13.84)
and
NH4F
(
7.34).
All
sixty
coupons
were
completely
intact
at
the
conclusion
of
the
test
with
no
peeling,
delamination
or
blistering.
2.
Permeability
(
ASTM
E
96)
The
average
water
vapor
transmission
(
WVT)
rate
of
three
coupons
was
3.9
g/
m2/
24
hrs,
well
under
the
most
stringent
requirements.
3.
Adhesion
(
ASTM
3359)
All
six
coupons
met
criteria
for
5A
rating,
the
best
possible,
with
no
peeling
or
removal
of
material.
4.
Weathering
(
ASTM
G
26)
All
samples
easily
passed
with
either
a
4.5
or
5
on
the
5­
point
scale.
The
4.5
indicated
slight
discoloration
but
no
material
deterioration.
5.
Salt
Spray
(
ASTM
B
117)
The
test
coupons
showed
no
blistering,
delamination
or
evidence
of
corrosion.
6.
Ignitability
(
ASTM
D
2863)
None
of
the
EKOR
Sealer
coupons
charred
at
less
than
31%
oxygen
and
there
was
no
ignition.
7.
Leachability
(
ANS
16.1)
Three
coupons
were
tested
with
each
of
three
aqueous
solutions
of
cesium,
cobalt
and
strontium
salts.
There
was
no
detectable
leaching
of
any
of
the
salts.
8.
Aging
Several
coupons
were
thermally
treated
over
a
range
of
temperatures
and
times
to
establish
a
mass
loss
relationship
that
could
be
correlated
to
natural
aging.
Using
a
process
developed
by
the
Kurchatov
Institute
of
Russia
and
approved
by
the
American
Polymer
Institute,
coupons
were
then
thermally
conditioned
to
a
predicted
age
of
171
years.
The
aged
coupons
were
then
subjected
to
chemical
resistance,
tensile/
elongation
and
adhesion
tests.
The
chemical
resistance
test
was
per
ASTM
D3912
again,
but
with
only
the
NaOH
solution;
the
coupons
showed
negligible
coating
surface
deterioration,
with
no
peeling
or
blistering.
The
tensile/
elongation
EKOR
 
Sealer
Product
Testing
Data
test
showed
an
increase
in
strength
to
an
average
of
332
psi
and
a
decrease
in
elongation
to
an
average
of
97%.
The
adhesion
results
were
a
rating
of
5A,
the
highest,
with
no
peeling
or
removal
of
material.
Taken
in
total,
the
aged
coupons
showed
a
continued
excellent
resistance
to
chemical
attack,
a
great
elasticity
and
tremendous
adhesive
capability.
9.
Flame
Spread
(
ASTM
E
84)
The
flame
spread
index
was
15
and
the
smoke
development
value
was
275,
both
well
under
criteria
for
indoor
application.

Product
Definition
Testing
1.
Linear
Shrinkage/
Coefficient
of
Thermal
Expansion
(
ASTM
C
351)
The
average
of
four
specimens
was
1.30%
linear
shrinkage
and
0.0002
in/
in/
oF.
2.
Steady
State
Heat
Flux
The
average
of
three
specimens
was
0.265
Btu/
hr
ft
oF.
3.
Volatile
Organic
Content
The
tested
value
was
36
g/
l,
well
under
most
site
requirements
of
350
g/
l.
No
toxic
or
explosive
gasses
were
measured.
4.
Tensile
Strength/
Elongation
(
ASTM
D
412)
The
average
tensile
strength
was
201
psi
and
elongation
was
176%.
These
values
show
excellent
elastomeric
behavior.
5.
Compressive
Strength
(
ASTM
D
695)
The
five
coupons
had
an
average
compressive
strength
of
911
psi
at
yield
and
an
average
compressive
modulus
of
2918
psi.
6.
Water
Absorption
(
ASTM
D
570)
The
average
of
five
coupons
was
0.4%
by
weight,
significantly
less
than
most
elastomers.

Conclusions
These
results
combine
with
previous
test
and
demonstration
data
from
Russia
to
show
that
EKOR
Sealer
has
unique
properties:
 
Very
High
Resistance
to
Degradation
due
to
Irradiation
(
Tested
to
10
Gigarads
without
deterioration)
 
Very
High
Resistance
to
Degradation
due
to
Aging
 
Very
High
Resistance
to
Degradation
due
to
Chemical
Exposure
 
Very
Low
Permeability
 
No
Measurable
Leachability
 
No
Toxic
Components
 
Fire­
Resistant
and
able
to
withstand
transient
temperature
spikes
to
1100
°
F
 
Extremely
Adhesive
to
practically
any
Surface,
even
Rusty,
Dirty,
Wet
or
Underwater
Environments
These
properties
make
EKOR
Sealer
ideal
for
providing
a
stable
environmental
barrier
inside
OR
outside
of
containers,
including
patching
leaks.
EKOR
Sealer
is
also
an
ideal
macroencapsulant
and
is
a
stable
waste
form
being
submitted
for
approval
to
existing
disposal
site.
10306
Eaton
Place,
Suite
220
Fairfax,
VA
22030­
2201
(
703)
352­
4399
eurotech@
eurotechltd.
com