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Conference Spotlight
2026 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Fusion Science and Technology
November 2025
Latest News
What’s the most difficult question you’ve been asked as a maintenance instructor?
Blye Widmar
"Where are the prints?!"
This was the final question in an onslaught of verbal feedback, comments, and critiques I received from my students back in 2019. I had two years of instructor experience and was teaching a class that had been meticulously rehearsed in preparation for an accreditation visit. I knew the training material well and transferred that knowledge effectively enough for all the students to pass the class. As we wrapped up, I asked the students how they felt about my first big system-level class, and they did not hold back.
“Why was the exam from memory when we don’t work from memory in the plant?” “Why didn’t we refer to the vendor documents?” “Why didn’t we practice more on the mock-up?” And so on.
N. A. Bulychev
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 81 | Number 8 | November 2025 | Pages 827-832
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2025.2454185
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In this study, copper and cobalt metal nanoparticles were fabricated using a plasma discharge in a hexane and toluene environment influenced by strong ultrasonic cavitation. The resulting nanoparticles were analyzed through methods of dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, and further on, measurements of their surface electrokinetic potential. The findings indicate that the particles were spherical, measuring approximately 20 to 80 nm in size, and demonstrated substantial resistance to aggregation as well as to sedimentation.
The electrokinetic potential values of the nanoparticle surfaces were monitored during their interaction with the water-soluble polymer polyvinyl alcohol. It was demonstrated that ultrasonic effects positively impacted the electrokinetic potential of the metal nanoparticle surfaces. Additionally, the experiments highlighted the potential for conducting high-temperature plasma-chemical reactions that could be utilized in fusion technology.
Additional study in this area has demonstrated that nanoparticles of different compositions, created under these conditions, possess an active surface featuring many unbalanced bonds and defects due to intensive ultrasonic treatment. This enables them to effectively engage with both organic and inorganic substances and matrices, and moreover, facilitate the development of new hybrid organic-inorganic composite materials.