Search  

Highlights

See also…

DOE Pulse
  • Number 303  |
  • January 18, 2010

INL facility a world leader in nuclear graphite testing

INL's Carbon Characterization Lab tests the properties and behavior of graphite, a key component of many current and future nuclear reactors.

INL's Carbon Characterization Lab
tests the properties and behavior
of graphite, a key component of
many current and future nuclear
reactors.

Graphite’s not just for pencils. Many of tomorrow’s nuclear reactors, including the Next Generation Nuclear Plant, will count on the material to keep their cores cool and their fission reactions proceeding at the proper pace. These are tough jobs performed in tough environments, and the Carbon Characterization Lab at DOE's Idaho National Laboratory is helping nuclear scientists learn just how graphite will do. Only a few facilities in the world can do this vital, demanding work — and only INL can do everything in-house. Researchers are blasting graphite samples with heat and neutron radiation in INL’s Advanced Test Reactor, and they’ll soon start analyzing the results at the CCL.

[Michael Wall, 208-526-5955,
michael.wall@inl.gov]