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Fuel Cycle & Waste Management
Devoted to all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle including waste management, worldwide. Division specific areas of interest and involvement include uranium conversion and enrichment; fuel fabrication, management (in-core and ex-core) and recycle; transportation; safeguards; high-level, low-level and mixed waste management and disposal; public policy and program management; decontamination and decommissioning environmental restoration; and excess weapons materials disposition.
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ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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Colin Judge: Testing structural materials in Idaho’s newest hot cell facility
Idaho National Laboratory’s newest facility—the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL)—sits across the road from the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF), which started operating in 1975. SPL will host the first new hot cells at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) in 50 years, giving INL researchers and partners new flexibility to test the structural properties of irradiated materials fresh from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) or from a partner’s facility.
Materials meant to withstand extreme conditions in fission or fusion power plants must be tested under similar conditions and pushed past their breaking points so performance and limitations can be understood and improved. Once irradiated, materials samples can be cut down to size in SPL and packaged for testing in other facilities at INL or other national laboratories, commercial labs, or universities. But they can also be subjected to extreme thermal or corrosive conditions and mechanical testing right in SPL, explains Colin Judge, who, as INL’s division director for nuclear materials performance, oversees SPL and other facilities at the MFC.
SPL won’t go “hot” until January 2026, but Judge spoke with NN staff writer Susan Gallier about its capabilities as his team was moving instruments into the new facility.
Historically, a complimentary copy of the July issue of Nuclear News magazine is included in all attendee and exhibitor registration bags at the annual Utility Working Conference.
Since we are unable to gather live, we are allowing open-access to this issue.
Download the July 2020 issue of Nuclear News
Published since 1959, Nuclear News is the monthly membership magazine of the American Nuclear Society. With nearly 11,000 readers throughout 54 countries, it is recognized as the flagship trade publication serving the worldwide nuclear community. Articles discuss new innovations and technologies in the areas of plant operations, maintenance and security; policy and legislation issues; international developments; waste management and fuel; and business and contract award news. Also covered are research and nonpower applications of nuclear science and technology, including nuclear medicine, food irradiation, and space nuclear applications.
Since the magazine accepted its first advertisement in 1960, Nuclear News has proudly partnered with more than 1,600 vendors and organizations to help keep the ANS network of nuclear science and technology professionals informed about their products, services, conferences, courses, and employment opportunities. Keep us in mind for all of your print and digital corporate messaging or marketing needs when you need to reach the nuclear community www.ans.org/advertise.
Last modified July 17, 2020, 10:28am EDT