Liquid metal cooled reactor Clementine was the first liquid metal cooled nuclear reactor and used mercury coolant, thought to be the obvious choice since it is liquid at room temperature. However, because of disadvantages including high toxicity, high vapor pressure even at room temperature, low boiling point, producing noxious fumes when heated, relatively low thermal conductivity, and a high neutron cross-section, it has fallen out of favor. Sodium and NaK (a eutectic sodium-potassium alloy) do not corrode steel to any significant degree and are compatible with many nuclear fuels, allowing for a wide choice of structural materials. They do, however, ignite spontaneously on contact
Room-temperature densification method Room-temperature densification method The room-temperature densification method was developed for LiMoO ceramics and is based on the water-solubility of LiMoO. It can be used for the fabrication of LiMoO ceramics instead of conventional thermal sintering. The method utilizes a small amount of aqueous phase formed by moistening the LiMoO powder. The densification occurs during sample pressing as the solution incorporates the pores between the powder particles and recrystallizes. The contact points of the particles provide a high pressure zone, where solubility is increased, whereas the pores act as a suitable place for the precipitation of the solution. Any residual water