FISH Mapping of the Centromere Regions of Plant Chromosomes

65635 Commercial water-cooled nuclear reactors have expensive safety systems to protect against the consequences of loss-of-coolant accidents. During such accidents, the metal clad nuclear fuel reacts violently and exothermically with water. Previous efforts to replace the metal cladding with inert ceramic materials have been unsuccessful because ceramic composites cannot be made impermeable to fission gases. Although monolithic ceramics might be a candidate because they are impermeable, they are too brittle for nuclear service. This project will develop a multi-layered ceramic structure that contains the best features of both composite materials (i.e., toughness and resistance to fracture) and monolithic materials (impermeable to fission gases). In Phase 1, several short length tubular sections of multi-layered, oxide based, ceramic structures will be designed, fabricated, and tested to demonstrate impermeability and fracture toughness. Commerical Application and Other Benefits as described by awardee: Each commercial nuclear reactor uses over 50,000 feet of fuel cladding per year. The new materials should replace the metal cladding, either for some of the existing 100 reactors, or for advanced reactors to be ordered in the future.