A state research organisation that created a low-cost casting-based neutron-absorbing aluminium composite material plate of up to two metres has transferred its technology to Konasol, a producer of titanium carbide alloy steels in South Korea. Konasol will use this technology to produce materials for spent nuclear fuel transport and storage containers.

The term spent nuclear fuel refers to used nuclear fuel irradiated in a nuclear reactor.

Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) created inexpensive casting-based composite material plates because it was crucial to localise an aluminium composite material with neutron absorption capability. In dry casks and spent fuel storage racks, the criticality of fuel assemblies is avoided using neutron absorber materials. Neutron absorber materials are metal matrix composites using aluminium or boron carbide.

"It is meaningful that metal composite materials that are cheaper and have superior properties than conventional powder metallurgy were manufactured. We will do our best to localise key materials that safely store and move spent nuclear fuel, a high-level radioactive waste that has been produced domestically and relied on imports," said KIMS head Lee Jung-hwan.

Konasol will create goods with a maximum length of five metres using technologies from the publicly funded Korea Institute of Materials Science. To lessen South Korea's reliance on foreign neutron-absorbing materials, which have been sourced mainly from U.S. and Japanese industries, dual-purpose casks that can carry and store spent nuclear fuel are now being developed.

A U.S. restriction on reprocessing to avoid possible proliferation in Northeast Asia has made piles of spent nuclear fuel rods a severe concern in South Korea. There are no facilities for long-term disposal or intermediate storage in South Korea. In temporary storage facilities, used nuclear fuel has been maintained.

First, spent fuel rods are stored in water-filled ponds that offer cooling and radiation protection. They can be moved to dry storage, such as concrete canisters, modular air-cooled canister storage (MACSTOR) units, and dry storage containers, after 7 to 10 years in wet storage. The projected 348 billion won ($242 million) in funding from 2023 to 2030 to research technology for the decommissioning of decommissioned reactors was approved by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration in June 2022.