64Zn, the most abundant isotope of zinc, is very susceptible to neutron activation, being transmuted into the highly radioactive 65Zn, which has a half-life of 244 days and produces intense gamma radiation. Because of this, Zinc Oxide used in nuclear reactors as an anti-corrosion agent is depleted of 64Zn before use, this is called depleted zinc oxide. For the same reason, zinc has been proposed as a salting material for nuclear weapons (cobalt is another, better-known salting material). A jacket of isotopically enriched 64Zn would be irradiated by the intense high-energy neutron flux from an exploding thermonuclear weapon, forming a large amount of 65Zn significantly increasing the radioactivity of the weapon's fallout. Such a weapon is not known to have ever been built, tested, or used. 65Zn is also used as a tracer to study how alloys that contain zinc wear out, or the path and the role of zinc in organisms.
64Zn , the most abundant isotope of zinc , is very susceptible to neutron activation , being transmuted into the highly radioactive 65Zn , which has a half - life of 244 days and produces intense gamma radiation . Because of this , Zinc Oxide used in nuclear reactors as an anti - corrosion agent is depleted of 64Zn before use , this is called depleted zinc oxide . For the same reason , zinc has been proposed as a salting material for nuclear weapons ( cobalt is another , better - known salting material ) . A jacket of isotopically enriched 64Zn would be irradiated by the intense high - energy neutron flux from an exploding thermonuclear weapon , forming a large amount of 65Zn significantly increasing the radioactivity of the weapon 's fallout . Such a weapon is not known to have ever been built , tested , or used . 65Zn is also used as a tracer to study how alloys that contain zinc wear out , or the path and the role of zinc in organisms .
Why is zinc oxide used in nuclear reactors?
Why is zinc oxide used in nuclear reactors ?
anti-corrosion agent
anti-corrosion agent