Nuclear materials

Nuclear materials are substances used in nuclear reactors, nuclear weapons, and other nuclear technologies. They include fissionable materials, fusible materials, and materials that can absorb neutrons.

Fissionable materials

Fissionable materials are substances that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction when struck by a neutron. The most commonly used fissionable materials are uranium-235 and plutonium-239. These materials are used in both nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.

Fusible materials

Fusible materials are substances that can undergo nuclear fusion, a process in which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. This process releases a large amount of energy. The most commonly used fusible materials are deuterium and tritium. These materials are used in fusion reactors and hydrogen bombs.

Neutron-absorbing materials

Neutron-absorbing materials are substances that can absorb neutrons without undergoing fission or fusion. These materials are used in nuclear reactors to control the rate of the nuclear chain reaction. The most commonly used neutron-absorbing materials are boron and cadmium.

See also

• Nuclear physics
• Nuclear engineering
• Nuclear fuel cycle
• Nuclear proliferation