Research Areas
University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) Alliance Program
The objective of this Alliance project is to advance the understanding of metallic corrosion in nuclear-relevant environments. Joint research is carried out by a senior and early-stage researcher, to ensure succession of capability at a Canadian university. A focus is on the application of innovative microscopy methods to understand corrosion at the nanoscale. The combined action of stress and corrosion (stress corrosion cracking (SCC)) are important, and complementary electrochemical work will be performed. A goal is to identify corrosion and SCC "precursors", which are nanoscale changes in chemical or material properties that occur prior to the onset of degradation. A second focus of this project is to better understand irradiation effects on corrosion, which is important long-term for nuclear power plants, as radiation dose increases with life extension. Research draws heavily on the novel facilities (i.e. proton accelerator) and microscopes available at the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL) at Queen's, and the Ontario Centre for Characterization of Advanced Materials (OCCAM) at Toronto. The program provides HQP with an inclusive environment and many opportunities to interact with industry and develop multi-disciplinary skills.
Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) Alliance Program
The NWMO was established in 2002 in accordance with the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act to assume responsibility for the long-term management of Canada's used nuclear fuel. The NWMO is implementing adaptive phased management, with the goal being the permanent isolation of used nuclear fuel in a Deep Geological Repository , using a multiple barrier system. The natural barrier host rock will have very low permeability, while the engineered barrier system consists of the used fuel container surrounded by bentonite clay. In support of this, the NWMO has extensive research programs whose primary goal is to evaluate and refine engineering designs.
This Alliance program investigates possible knowledge gaps, evaluating the mechanisms governing corrosion, mechanical behavior, interaction with clay, and metallurgical effects. Novel microscopy, experimental, and modelling methods will be used to study micro-to-atomic scale interactions, the resolution where degradation mechanisms operate.
Areas of research include:
1. Ex-situ & in-situ nanoscale characterization of Cu corrosion in aqueous solutions.
2. Investigating sulfide film formation on Cu in humid H2S environments.
3. Characterization of the effect of impurities in Cu and pore water on coating performance.
4. Porosity of cold-spray Cu coatings – characterization and micro-mechanical testing.
5. Atomistic and coarse-grain modelling of bentonite clay and its interaction with the Cu coating.
6. Characterization of developmental electrodeposited (ED) and cold spray (CS) Cu, & natural Cu.
Small Modular Reactors
This research program investigates the corrosion of candidate nickel- and iron-based engineering and model alloys for small modular reactors (SMR) in environments relevant to high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR or VHTR) and molten salt reactor (MSR) designs. For these SMR designs, results will inform regulatory qualification of materials, chemistry control limits and guidelines, and the additional effect of irradiation on corrosion.
NSERC Create training program for Excellence in Canadian Corrosion Education through internationalization, equity and interdisciplinarity (CORRECT)
We are one partner of the NSERC CORRECT program being led by Dr. Yolanda Hedberg at Western University. The NSERC CREATE CORRECT program is an interdisciplinary, international and equitable corrosion science training program. It focuses on improving corrosion education, increasing representation of diverse groups employed in corrosion science, increasing corrosion awareness in society and improving the job-readiness of corrosion students.
The primary goals are to:
increase the representation of equity-deserving groups employed in corrosion
increase corrosion awareness in society
improve the job-readiness of corrosion-related students.
Nuclear Materials Corrosion Group
We are one part of a larger nuclear materials research group within the department of mechanical and materials engineering at Queen’s University. We closely associate with, and co-supervise students, with Professors Mark Daymond, Laurent Béland, and Zhongwen Yao. Please see the link to the department website under the About Us tab for more information on these other groups studying nuclear materials.
Other Areas of Interest
We always are interested in expanding our scope of corrosion research, and have projects that have included subjects related to applications for hydrogen storage, the oil and gas sector, etc.