....CHDE............LI....SE......................R0296855EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONA319891206EP88305733.319880623enenen6580319870623US19891206198949198812281988524 4G 21F 5/00 A 4G 21F 9/36 BdeLagermethode für radioaktives AbfallmaterialenA method of storing radioactive waste materialfrMéthode de stockage pour déchets radioactifsAUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION00249042LBN/P80331New Illawarra RoadLucas Heights New South Wales 2234AURamm, Eric John10 Immarna StreetLilli Pilli New South Wales, 2229AUBen-Nathan, Laurence Albertet al00028211Urquhart-Dykes & Lord 91 Wimpole StreetLondon W1M 8AHGBCHDELISE19891206198949

In the illustrated embodiment, a non-deformable inner vessel 60 retains safely radioactive waste and a suitable dense metal sheath is formed around the inner vessel 60 at relatively low temperatures and pressures and, most importantly, the melting point of the material forming the sheath 74 is substantially lower than the melting point of the inner vessel 60 or the outer vessel 70 so that the sheath 74 can be removed in a suitable furnace thereby permitting retrieval of the inner vessel 60 and the waste for reprocessing.