CarTech Micro-Melt DuoSorb 316NU alloys are powder metallurgy 316 type stainless steels containing varying amounts of two thermal neutron absorbing elements, boron and gadolinium. Despite its much higher atomic weight, gadolinium has more than four times the thermal neutron absorbing capabilities of boron. By restricting the boron content to less than 1%, and using gadolinium to attain an equivalent boron content (Beq), the new alloys exhibit superior ductility, toughness, bendability and corrosion resistance compared to borated stainless steels.

The alloys exhibit a substantially higher thermal neutron absorbing cross section than borated stainless steels and approach that of Boral® and other boron-containing composites, such as Metamic®. While boron remains the traditional thermal neutron absorber for containment of spent nuclear fuel materials, gadolinium has a higher thermal neutron cross section than boron.

The production of the CarTech Micro-Melt DuoSorb alloys is enhanced by the use of powder metal technology. PM processing yields a fine-grained, uniform microstructure, which improves hot and cold fabricability and facilitates consistent thermal neutron absorption capabilities throughout the product.

Applications:
These alloys can be considered for use in the nuclear industry for spent fuel storage racks and transportation casks, control rods, burnable poison, and shielding.