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Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
Armando C. Souza, Flavio Aristone, Marco A. A. Cortez, Munique S. de Lima, Duilio R. Porto, Rafaela M. da Silva, Jesualdo L. Rossi
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 8 | August 2025 | Pages 1609-1618
Rapid Communication | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2428912
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This study investigates the potential of a W8Ni3Cu alloy as a gamma radiation shielding material for transporting highly radioactive substances. The alloy, composed of tungsten (W), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu), was characterized using X-ray diffraction after sintering, revealing a body-centered-cubic crystal structure with an α-tungsten phase and a secondary γ-nickel-tungsten (Ni17W3) phase. The gamma radiation attenuation coefficients of the alloy were measured using a 60Co source. The results showed linear attenuation coefficients of 0.688 cm-1 for the alloy sintered at 1200°C and 0.488 cm-1 for the alloy sintered at 1300°C. These values are 34% and 53% lower than the reference value of pure tungsten (1.044 cm-1), but they still demonstrate adequate shielding properties for practical use. The findings suggest that the W8Ni3Cu alloy is a promising candidate for fabricating containers for the safe transport of radioactive material.