ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2026
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Aalo Atomics achieves criticality on July 4
Executive Order 14301 set an ambitious goal for at least three test reactors to achieve criticality by July 4. Two private companies participating in the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program—Antares and Valar Atomics—reached this stage earlier in June, and Deployable Energy—participating in the DOE's Nuclear Energy Launch Pad—became the third last week.
In the last few weeks, reports indicated that Aalo would be next, reaching criticality at Idaho National Laboratory with a low-enriched uranium–fueled, sodium-cooled reactor on or near the target date set forth by President Trump’s EO 14301. In the early hours of July 4, Aalo’s critical test reactor—a full-scale zero-power version of its planned 10-MWe Aalo-X—did just that, becoming the fourth DOE-authorized reactor to hit the milestone.
Elise B. Fox, Mark D. Kranjc, Thomas E. Skidmore
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 71 | Number 4 | May 2017 | Pages 507-513
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1293448
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In an ideal tritium system, we would be able to remove all polymer components due the damage incurred by the resulting beta decay and reduce the required maintenance of the systems and its components. However, polymers are an integral material used within the Tritium Facility in sealing, joining, and containment and are used in several different systems within the process. With the loss of certain capabilities, such as the Normetex pump, it is necessary to identify and/or develop polymers that can better withstand exposure to beta radiation in tritium environments. This article reviews the various polymer resins and formulations that are used in a tritium environment, their properties, and their performance.