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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
B. A. Pint, J. R. DiStefano, P. F. Tortorelli
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 44 | Number 2 | September 2003 | Pages 433-440
Technical Paper | Fusion Energy - Fusion Materials | doi.org/10.13182/FST03-A373
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The primary functions of the blanket in a deuterium/tritium-fueled fusion reactor are to convert neutron kinetic energy into heat, breed tritium for the fuel cycle and accommodate a heat transfer system. Various blanket concepts have been considered including those incorporating liquid metals, molten salts, water and He. The objective of this review is to outline some of the critical compatibility issues associated with structural materials being considered for designs operating at >500°C. Examples are given for vanadium alloys, magnetohydrodynamic coatings, oxide dispersion strengthened ferritic alloys and silicon carbide composites.