Compacted bentonite is one of the widely used buffer materials for the disposal of high-level
radioactive waste (HLW). Since the buffer is located between a disposal canister and near-
field rock, it prevents the release of radionuclides, and protects the canister from external
impact and the penetration of groundwater. To dissipate decay heat from the canister, the
buffer should have high thermal conductivity, so one of the most important properties for
HLW repository is the thermal conductivity of compacted bentonite. In this study, predictive …