Nuclear Engineering International reports that General Atomics has developed a new cladding for nuclear fuel.
- General Atomics has developed SiGA, a silicon carbide nuclear fuel cladding that can withstand extreme temperatures up to 3800°F, potentially transforming future nuclear fuel production by improving performance and lowering costs.
- SiGA cladding incorporates silicon carbide fiber to create a tough and durable composite material, addressing the brittleness issue of pure silicon carbide.
- The development is supported by the US Department of Energy’s Accident Tolerant Fuel Programm, with plans for demonstration by the end of this decade and potential commercialization in the early 2030s.
“Silicon carbide can survive temperatures hotter than molten lava but can be brittle in its pure form, historically limiting its use as a structural material. GA-EMS solved this problem by incorporating silicon carbide fibre into the cladding. The fibre reinforces the material similar to the way steel rebar is used to reinforce concrete.”
Read the full article here.
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