Materion Corp., Mayfield Heights, Ohio, reports that beryllium components supplied by Materion Performance Alloys and Composites are helping Belgium’s BR2 nuclear test reactor to continue operation and contribute to the world’s supply of radiopharmaceuticals. The BR2 reactor plays an important role in producing materials for nuclear medicine and accounts for nearly one quarter of the world’s production of radiopharmaceuticals used for medical nuclear imaging.
Materion’s beryllium rods and reflectors were needed to refurbish critical components in Belgium’s BR2 nuclear test reactor. These components are used in many test reactors because beryllium, with its low atomic number and weight, is the most efficient neutron donor of any metallic element. In order to function, nuclear reactors need a concentration of neutrons in the core. These neutrons are created by the uranium in the nuclear fuel, but at an energy not useful for the reactor. Beryllium is capable of reducing the neutron energy and multiplying the neutrons so the compact reactor core keeps running. These unique properties make beryllium the material of choice for nuclear test components at the heart of research reactors.
In 2013, operators of Belgium’s nuclear research center (SCK-CEN), asked Materion to facilitate the production and fabrication of beryllium irradiation channels required for the 55-year-old reactor’s retrofit project. Launched in 2014, the successful two-year project was completed on June 1, 2016, as the reactor became fully operational once again.
“BR2 is a major supplier of radioisotopes, and the global medical community relies heavily on its production to diagnose and treat cancer as well as many other medical conditions,” said W. Glenn Maxwell, President, Materion Performance Alloys and Composites. “It was essential for us to produce high quality materials and deliver them on time to SCK-CEN so they could keep supply available to meet demand.”
The photo shows beryllium reflector rods made by Materion shining through the center of the partly assembled mock-up for the BR2 matrix refurbishment.
Beyond SCK-CEN, Materion supplies a number of nuclear test reactors, for both materials research and medical isotope production. New applications, refurbishments, and upgrades to other reactors are scheduled over this year and into 2017, including the RP-10 Reactor in Peru.
