Nuclear Energy

Alloys

Many of our alloys, particularly stainless steel alloys with metals like vanadium, are specifically designed for the building industry to provide more lightweight materials without compromising on mechanical strength.

Any weight savings that can be made in a building play an important role in creating more sustainable structures that are less energy-intensive to build and require smaller amounts of foundation materials such as concrete.

The construction of the building is not the only part of the nuclear energy industry that needs strong, durable materials. Containment buildings are often made from reinforced steels as they need to be able to withstand potential explosions in the event of nuclear accidents as well as very high temperatures.

There are also thick steel layers surrounding the reactor core as a safety measure in the event of a potential accident.

Zirconium Alloys

Zirconium alloys are often used as construction materials for reactors as they have low neutron capture cross-sections and are chemically resistant.

We offer all our alloys in a range of thicknesses, and zirconium alloys and pure materials are available in a number of different material forms to fit any construction process. We also offer very high-purity grades of zirconium containing less than 0.01% hafnium specifically for nuclear applications.

Polymers

Polymers often have very high radiation resistance and are useful for providing coatings for pipes and as manufacturing materials for O-rings for making air-tight or water-tight seals.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is one of the most commonly used polymer materials for pipe coatings, and Goodfellow can provide PTFE tubes already shaped in a variety of diameters to match existing fittings.

Goodfellow’s PTFE offerings all have wide working temperature ranges up to 260°C and thus can handle harsh steam environments and offer an excellent layer of chemical resistivity and protection for metal pipework.

Ceramics

Many ceramic materials are chemically inert and are highly resistant to temperature, meaning that they are widely used in the nuclear energy industry.

Ceramics can be used as the first layer of defense around nuclear reactors.

Goodfellow's MACOR® is a machinable glass ceramic popular for use in the nuclear industry. Easy to shape and machine as required, MACOR® is an excellent choice for fixtures and reference blocks for power generation, with a maximum temperature use of 1000°C.

We can also provide MACOR® components machined to customer requirements.