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Lightbridge Achieves Critical Fabrication Development Milestone by Demonstrating the Extrusion Process for Uranium-Zirconium Samples
RESTON, Va., March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (“Lightbridge”) (Nasdaq: LTBR), an advanced nuclear fuel technology company, today
About this update from Lightbridge Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"RESTON, Va., March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (“Lightbridge”) (Nasdaq: LTBR), an advanced nuclear fuel technology company, today announced it had achieved a critical milestone in developing its cutting-edge fuel technology designed to offer improved economics and higher levels of safety than conventional nuclear fuel. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has extruded coupon samples of Lightbridge Fuel™ material consisting of an alloy of depleted uranium and zirconium. The extrusion process involves pressing a metallic alloy billet through a die. A video demonstration of the extrusion process can be found at: https://www.ltbridge.com/news-media/media-gallery/video/video/7194/lightbridge-demonstration-of-the-extrusion-process-for Picture 1: Extrusion Press at INL (Source: INL) Picture 2: Extrusion in Progress (Source: INL) Picture 3: Uranium-Zirconium Rod Post-Extrusion (Source: INL) INL and Lightbridge will work together to analyze the extruded rod to confirm the extrusion process parameters prior to producing future fuel samples using high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which Lightbridge will ultimately use to manufacture its fuel. Lightbridge’s work is part of its Strategic Partnership Project and Cooperative Research and Development agreements with Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) operating contractor for INL, which aims to generate irradiation performance data for Lightbridge’s delta-phase uranium-zirconium alloy relating to various thermophysical properties. The data will support fuel performance modeling and regulatory licensing efforts for the commercial deployment of Lightbridge Fuel. “We are pleased to collaborate with Lightbridge in achieving this important milestone in their efforts to qualify Lightbridge fuel,” said Jess Gehin, INL associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science and Technology. “This achievement demonstrates the unique role that national laboratories, particularly INL, play in nuclear innovation and keeping the U.S. as the global leader in nuclear energy.” “Reaching this milestone is an important step in our ongoing work with INL,” said Dr. Scott Holcombe, Vice President of Engineering at Lightbridge Corporation. “Casting and extruding this demonstration billet of Lightbridge Fuel alloy showcases the unique research talent and facilities ...