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Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
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2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Fusion Science and Technology
August 2024
Latest News
SRS partnership’s mission is to dissolve spent fuel
A collaboration between Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) and Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is making progress toward processing non-aluminum spent nuclear fuel (NASNF) as part of the site’s accelerated basin de-inventory mission. SRNL is the managing and operating contractor at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina.
Masaru Takagi, Robert Cook, Barry McQuillan, Fred Elsner, Richard Stephens, Abbas Nikroo, Jane Gibson, Sally Paguio
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 41 | Number 3 | May 2002 | Pages 278-285
Technical Paper | Fourteenth Target Fabrication Specialists' Meeting | doi.org/10.13182/FST41-278
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Recently, we developed a new method for making spherical poly(α-methylstyrene) (PαMS) mandrels. The process utilizes a small amount (<0.1wt%) of high-molecular-weight poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in the suspending medium, which substantially increases the interfacial tension during curing relative to methods using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and yields extremely round capsules. The PAA is also beneficial for centering of the core water, leading to exceptionally concentric capsules. However, fully cured capsules made by this method displayed a significant level of high frequency surface debris that became especially problematic when the mandrels were subsequently overcoated. To solve this problem we examined the use of PAA in conjunction with PVA in order to reduce these surface features, and explored numerous variations of concentration and timing of the PVA addition. The optimum conditions were found to be initial use of PAA for centering and symmetry of the mandrels, followed by removal of the PAA medium, washing of the mandrels with water, and finally transfer to PVA solution for completion of the curing cycle. Glow discharge polymer shells made from these mandrels have power spectra that meet the ignition capsule design requirements.