[ RadSafe ] SECURITY -- The super cask . . .

[Susan Gawarecki]

SECURITY -- The super cask . . .
Story Tips From the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory
June 2005

A method for making super-tough, lower-cost containers to transport,
protect and store spent nuclear reactor fuel rods has been patented by
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers Charles Forsberg, Nuclear
Science and Technology, and Vinod Sikka, Metals and Ceramics.  The
method uses a cermet, a metal-ceramic composite traditionally used for
tank armor, machine tools and bank vaults. Cermet's strength, weight and
radiation shielding properties make it an excellent material for spent
nuclear fuel casks.  However, welding and fabricating cermet into cask
form has proven costly and difficult.  The new ORNL method uses a hollow
steel mold filled with a mixture of depleted uranium oxide, ceramics and
steel powder.  The cylinder is sealed, forged and compressed in a
procedure that does not require welding of the cermet, avoids
traditional manufacturing complications and may greatly lower
fabrication costs. The technology could hasten development of a nearly
indestructible "super cask" that saves money while improving security of
spent nuclear fuel rods.

(Funding: DOE Office of Environmental Management)
[Contact: Mike Bradley, (865) 576-9553; bradleymk at ornl.gov]