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Conference Spotlight
2025 ANS Winter Conference & Expo
November 9–12, 2025
Washington, DC|Washington Hilton
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Latest News
Researchers use one-of-a-kind expertise and capabilities to test fuels of tomorrow
At the Idaho National Laboratory Hot Fuel Examination Facility, containment box operator Jake Maupin moves a manipulator arm into position around a pencil-thin nuclear fuel rod. He is preparing for a procedure that he and his colleagues have practiced repeatedly in anticipation of this moment in the hot cell.
G. W. Hollenberg, R. H. Jones, G. E. Lucas
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 19 | Number 3 | May 1991 | Pages 1701-1706
Material and Tritium | Proceedings of the Ninth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (Oak Brook, Illinois, October 7-11, 1990) | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A29587
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Ceramic/ceramic composites, in particular, SiC/SiC composites, offer two major advantages over conventional structural metals for fusion applications; i.e., low activation under neutron irradiation and high temperature mechanical properties. These composites face several challenging issues which include: fabrication scale up, joining methods, and chemical compatibility. Inherent porosity, together with microcracking that occurs during stressing beyond the yield strength may negate the consideration of these composites for hermetic boundaries unless combined with other materials. Irradiation stability is an issue until better data can be obtained. Hence, the feasibility of using these composites in a fusion structure remains to be established.