Industrial Applications

Our main industrial isotope is depleted zinc₆₄ which is used widely in the nuclear industry. The addition of zinc to nuclear reactors greatly reduces corrosion processes, including stress corrosion cracking.

Zinc also reduces the amount of radioactive cobalt₆₀ formed as a result of the activation of natural cobalt in the construction materials of the reactor. Cobalt₆₀ is a major contributor to radiation build up in cooling systems and can cause elevated dose rates of maintenance personnel. If natural zinc is injected, zinc₆₄ forms the radioactive zinc₆₅ which negates the beneficial reduction of cobalt₆₀. If the zinc₆₄ isotope is removed prior to injection in the cooling system, full advantage can be taken from the cobalt₆₀ level reduction and the average dose rates are substantially reduced.

We often provide large quantities of depleted zinc₆₄ in the form of depleted zinc oxide pellets or powder for boiling water reactors and depleted zinc acetate for pressurised water reactors.