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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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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What’s in your Dubai chocolate? Nuclear scientists test pistachios for toxins
For the uninitiated, Dubai chocolate is a candy bar filled with pistachio and tahini cream and crispy pastry recently popularized by social media influencers. While it’s easy to dismiss as a viral craze now past its peak, the nutty green confection has spiked global pistachio demand, and growers and processors are ramping up production. That means more pistachios need to be tested for aflatoxins—a byproduct of a common crop mold.
John A. De Mastry, Frederic R. Shober, Ronald F. Dickerson
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 9 | Number 3 | March 1961 | Pages 299-304
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE61-A25880
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An alloy containing niobioum-20 w/o uranium has been developed for reactor fuel applications. The fabrication characteristics, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior in air, CO2, NaK, water, and steam were studied. After consumable arc melting, the alloy was successfully forged at 1370°C (2500°F) and rolled at 980°C (1800°F) to sheet. Representative specimens of this alloy showed onlv slight reductions in hardness up to 900°C (1650°F). The 0.2% offset yield strength was 93,000 psi at 24°C (75°F) and 71,000 psi at 870°C (1600°F). At a stress of 63,000 psi at 870°C (1600°F), 200 hr were required to cause rupture. The corrosion life of niobium-20 w/o uranium was superior to that of unalloyed niobium in 300°C (572°F) air and in CO2 at 316°C (600°F). In 1000 hr of exposure to 316°C (600°F) water, this alloy exhibited corrosion rates only two or three (0.003 mg/cm2/hr) times greater than that of Zircaloy-2 (0.001 mg/cm2/hr). This alloy appears to be compatible with NaK at 870°C (1600°F.)