REE-Al Intermetallics™ Application Innovations

 As revolutionary alloy technology for industrial usage, the REE-Al Intermetallics™ family of alloy generally has an optimal elevated melting point between that of carbon steel and titanium while having densities much less than steel and even titanium alloys. Each REE-Al Intermetallics™ alloy series has the capacity to form REE-aluminate surface oxides for robust corrosion resistance even in elevated temperatures and acidic environments while preserving the intrinsic REE's characteristic properties. 

For applications specific to nuclear reactor core technologies, such as control rods and pressure vessels, and spent-fuel storage material technology, many REEs have excellent neutron-absorbing characteristics necessary for reactivity control. Some REEs have excellent neutron transparency for structural reactor material. But, these qualities are made ineffective by their disadvantageous intrinsic chemically reactive tendencies with water. However, in the form of REE-Al Intermetallics™ innovation, the potency to revolutionize the current state-of-the-art control rod neutron-absorber and reactor pressure vessel technologies in terms of applicability, functionality, competitiveness, and radioactive waste-stream management to reduce environmental impact is irrefutable. 

For nuclear power reactor applications, the disadvantages of current control technologies severely limit the advancement of nuclear reactors, especially where establishing zero-emission or clean energy sources are critical initiative. REE-Al matrices with high neutron capture are innovative reactor reactivity control materials as they are compatible with water coolant at the operating conditions and irradiation performance. For example, selected REE-Al matrix can perform as clad-free neutron-absorber technology that may provide practically lifetime service with invaluable accident-tolerant potency in almost any reactor core. The oxide growth mechanism similar to aluminum is expected to mitigate hydrogen-producing reactions at elevated temperatures. REE-Al Intermetallics™ swelling free characteristics and long-range crystalline order generally suggest less tendency for creep and heat deformation during irradiation cycles. REE-Al Intermetallics™ CR-Absorber Technologies can substitute the current control rod absorber materials as, boron-carbide (B4C), Ag-In-Cd, and hafnium, competitively in commercial light-water reactors, research reactors, and water-cooled small modular reactors that are developing worldwide. 

REE-Al Intermetallics™ series with neutron-absorption probabilities less than or comparable to steel also may be attractive options for the containment vessel of the reactor core, called the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). Typically, RPVs are made from copper-containing bainitic (carbon) steel. The RPV body is made of carbon steel, and its exterior is clad with stainless steel to help mitigate corrosion. However, neutron irradiation of iron and nickel in steel produces long-lived radioactive nuclides nickel-59 and nickel-63 with half-lives of 76000 and 101 years, respectively, which causes disposal concerns. Retired RPVs are often too expensive to dispose of and become a facility's legacy waste. Selected REE-Al Intermetallics™ series can mitigate current steel RPV legacy waste issues at commercial reactor plants due to minimal activation products, unlike steel. Having invaluable accident-tolerant potencies for most reactor core types, REE-Al Intermetallics™ alloys have the capacity to form a robust corrosion-resistant REE-aluminate (oxide layer), with a growth mechanism similar to aluminum oxide on aluminum. The REE-aluminate layer  can mitigate hydrogen-producing reactions even at elevated temperatures. Additionally, swelling-free characteristics and long-range crystalline order generally suggest less tendency for creep and heat-deformation to occur during irradiation cycles. 

Most current rare-earth permanent magnets, in particular, are well known to have poor resistance to high temperature and corrosion and are fragile (i.e., brittle). REE-Al -  additive magnets are the potential basis for the advancements of magnet technologies. Our REE-Al Intermetallics™ Ferromagnet innovation may have significantly improved the curie (demagnetizing) temperature, melting point, and corrosion resistance. Although permanent magnets are widely used in various applications, including motors, smartphones, and personal electronics, manufacturers of electricity-production turbines and electric vehicle usage are also large  consumers especially where green energy production and utilization is concerned.

As silicon matrix technology becomes obsolete in RF micro-devices, REE-Al Intermetallics™ series application in micro-wave engineering technologies may offer revolutionary benefits as robust metallic matrix options with stable electrical characteristics having an expansive range of electrical resistivity. Additionally, the unique (REE-Al-O) garnet or perovskite dielectric oxide that grows on the surface of any REE-Al Intermetallics™ series can be innovative as advancement in MOSFET and FinFET, technology, in layered metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitors and On-chip transformers micro-component for chip design and manufacturing.