Elimination of cobalt in nuclear valves

Occupational radiation exposure at U.S. plants has declined substantially over the past few years. However, nuclear utilities will have to implement new technologies that promise further reductions in radiation fields if industry exposure goals are to be reached. A long-term impediment to reducing fields is the continuing use of cobalt-base hard-facing alloys, especially in valves. This article details one of the emerging radiation control technologies in an article by Ocken and Wood.