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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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New coolants, new fuels: A new generation of university reactors
Here’s an easy way to make aging U.S. power reactors look relatively youthful: Compare them (average age: 43) with the nation’s university research reactors. The 25 operating today have been licensed for an average of about 58 years.
Richard V. Demars, Charles G. Dideon, Thomas A. Thornton, James S. Tulenko, Wayne A. Pavinich, Elma Beth S. Pardue*
Nuclear Technology | Volume 62 | Number 1 | July 1983 | Pages 75-80
Technical Paper | Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT83-A33234
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Postirradiation examinations have been conducted as part of an extensive Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) program in reactor control materials performance characterization. These examinations of fixed burnable poison rods and control rods confirmed operational performance and extended the material behavior data base for irradiated absorber materials used in B&W-designed pressurized water reactors. These examinations included visual, dimensional, and destructive examinations. They were conducted at B&W’s Lynchburg Research Center hot cell facilities on Ag-In-Cd control rods, Al2O3-B4C burnable poison rods, and B4C control rods. The visual and dimensional exams revealed no discernible exterior damage on any of these components. Destructive examinations provided data on absorber swelling, gas release, and open porosity.