3 ms·
Also, under neutron radiation bismuth transmutes into polonium, which is somewhat nasty to deal with. Most current research on lead-cooled reactors use pure le
by jabl 5y ago
Also, under neutron radiation bismuth transmutes into polonium, which is somewhat nasty to deal with.
Most current research on lead-cooled reactors use pure lead. The downside, as you say, is higher melting temperature.
- p_l 5y agoRussian research actually found polonium to be a net benefit! Namely, the short half-life and the fact that it undergoes alpha decay into lead meant that a) it was very easy to detect leaks b) cleanup was also easier. Also, the rate of polonium production turned out to be pretty low. The bigger issue is that Bismuth production would be utterly, completely drained by mass production of SVBR-style reactors.