Between the Sheets

In this older article (2003), the advent and usage of nanomaterials, specifically nanotubes, in nuclear applications is suspected to be an important material in the design of future nuclear reactors. Carbon nanotubes have a vast range of applications in various industries: aerospace, mechanical, bioengineering, biomedical, electrical, etc. due to its physical properties. Nanotubes can be used, for example, to increase the hardness of a composite material, or alternatively, they can be used to enhance thermal, or electrical properties.
The importance of this article is that foresees the production and maufacturing of nanotubes from the observation of waste graphite rods from nuclear reactors. Rob H. Telling at the University of Sussex, found that nanotubes would be a possible outcome from irradiating graphite structures with neutrons from nuclear reactions; nowadays, one of the methods for nanotube production comes from laser irradiation. Their findings also suggest that further understanding of the trapped atoms and radiation in the graphite lattice of the control bars and nanotubes, could lead to better disposal of the 150,000 tons of irradiated waste. Furthermore, the use of nanotubes in conjunction with nuclear fuel pellets should yield better efficiencies in nuclear fuel usage, reaction control and thermal transport outside the vessels.

Peter Weiss. Source: Science News, Vol. 163, No. 16 (Apr. 19, 2003), pp. 243-244
Published by: Society for Science & the Public Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4014411