Firstly this is not advice so DYOR I have for 30+ years taught Physics including fundamental Nuclear Physics at HSC level.
As most people do misunderstood both the role of Zr and Hf in reactors and what happened the Fukushima incident. The anti nuclear lobby has played on the ignorance of the public in nuclear matters and have no interest in correcting it.
Does anyone really know the potential of the super alloys now that 99% PURE Zr & Hf will be continually available and not as a result of the needs of the nuclear fuel industry (these two are needed with others to make fuel sheath (think hot condom here) and this has been the only source of these two, Remember Fukushima, it may not have happened if GE had not decided to use a cheaper condom material.
Your condom analogy is totally wrong as it misunderstands the use of these metals. Both are used in the reactor core and not the containment vessel.
Zr and Hf have totally different roles.
The Zr MUST be 99.95% pure and as free from Hf as possible. There is NO substitute material known for Zr.
Zr is 1.that it is totally transparent to the neutron flux that sustains the nuclear chain reaction. 2. it retains its structural strength at the internal reactor temperatures.
It is therefore used for all internal reactor parts including the fuel rod assemblies and the structure that supports them. It is the ONLY metal that can be used.
Hf on the other hand is highly neutron absorbent so it is used for control rods. There are several substitute materials but 1. it is the least toxic alternative and 2. it is a by product of Zr purification so is available to the industry.
FUKUSHIMA WAS NOT NUCLEAR EXPLOSION although radiation was leaked. It was a simple Hydrogen air explosion.
The Hydrogen was produced by sea water entering the containment vessel coming into contact with red hot metal piping made of Fe, Ni and Cr. This mixed with the air in the vessel forming an explosive mixture, ignited by a static electricity spark blowing the top off the vessel releasing the radioactive fallout. This was the finding of the IAEC investigation though this was not widely reported.
I have checked this with two Chemical Engineering PhD friends.who confirm that this was the findging of the official investigation but ignored by the press.
At the ALK level the separation of Hf from Zr should give 99% Hf and 99.5+ Zr purity since the metals are found together as 98%Zr and 2%Hf.
.These have many valuable uses outside the nuclear industry as indicates in past company presentations.
Enough for now Regards RB
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