Towards a mechanistic interpretation of the iodine – paint interactions
4
th European Review Meeting on Severe Accident Research (ERMSAR-2010) Bologna (Italy), May 11-12, 2010Understanding iodine – paint interaction from a detailed and mechanistic point of view is important for prediction of the gaseous iodine in the containment atmosphere following design basis and severe accidents with appropriated phenomenological models. Thus, a short review of the mechanisms involving iodine interaction with Epoxy paint is presented. Then, the results of some EPICUR tests dealing with the irradiation of a painted coupon loaded with molecular iodine are presented. Some parameters were investigated: iodine loading, temperature and relative humidity. Release kinetics for organic and inorganic iodine are found to be different from tests of irradiated epoxy painted coupons. Finally, a strategy is proposed to follow these studies with theoretical calculations. They should help in developing a better understanding of the iodine-paint interaction, with the objective of being able to extrapolate the models to other types of paints. A more detailed understanding of the iodine paint interactions should also facilitate understanding of the effects of paint aging on iodine volatility.