Enriched Boric Acid is designed into the EPR as the primary coolant additive for rate of reaction control. Isotopically enriched boric acid increases criticality control, achieves higher levels of long-term control, reduces the corrosion effect and reduces operator exposure to radiation.
– By Linton Levy –
Ceradyne Boron Products, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ceradyne, has announced a contract award of approximately $8 million for the supply of B-10 Enriched Boric Acid to Electricité de France SA (EDF) for its first European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) presently under construction in France.
Enriched Boric Acid is designed into the EPR as the primary coolant additive for rate of reaction control. Isotopically enriched boric acid increases criticality control, achieves higher levels of long-term control, reduces the corrosion effect and reduces operator exposure to radiation.
“The utilization of advanced reactor designs in conjunction with superior safety and operating systems ushers in a more efficient, safe, reliable and environmentally friendly energy alternative to greenhouse-gas emitting technologies," said Dennis Manning, Vice President and General Manager. "Boron Products, LLC is proud to be involved in the success and continued advancement of safe, reliable nuclear power generation. We expect to completely ship this order in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.”
Boron Products, LLC operates the world’s largest boron isotope separation facility providing enriched boron products for commercial nuclear power, defense, semiconductor and neutron detection applications. Enriched boron compounds are manufactured under an ISO 9001:2008 certified quality system and exceed nuclear safety and environmental regulatory guidelines.
Ceradyne develops, manufactures and markets advanced technical ceramic products and components for defense, industrial, automotive/diesel and commercial applications.
In many high performance applications, products made of advanced technical ceramics meet specifications that similar products made of metals, plastics or traditional ceramics cannot achieve. Advanced technical ceramics can withstand extremely high temperatures, combine hardness with light weight, are highly resistant to corrosion and wear, and often have excellent electrical capabilities, special electronic properties and low friction characteristics.