KODAK Californium Flux Multiplier: Kodak had secret nuclear reactor

Californium Flux Multiplier what in the world is that.
Kodak had secret nuclear reactor

James ManningMay 15, 2012 - 1:34PM

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/kodak-had-secret-nuclear-reactor-20120515-1ynma.html#ixzz1uupvUh6N 

It has been revealed that ailing imaging company Kodak had a secret nuclear reactor hidden in a US research facility for more than 30 years.

The reactor, which contained 1.5kg of enriched "weapons-grade" uranium, was a Californium Flux Multiplier (CFX) acquired by the company in 1974 and only decommissioned in 2006.

But Kodak, which filed for bankruptcy in January, claims that the device was fully licensed and perfectly safe.

"The uranium used in the CFX was highly enriched, but ... was not easily adaptable to creating a nuclear weapon," company spokesman Christopher Veronda told Fairfax Media.

"This device presented no radiation risk to the public or employees," Mr Veronda said.

While the reactor was not used to generate power and therefore was not at risk of a meltdown, it was still vulnerable to radiation leaks and could have been deadly if it had fallen into the hands of terrorists.

"These devices are very rare," said Miles Pomper, a senior research associate at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Washington, D.C.

"According to the decommissioning plan submitted by Kodak it is only one of two such devices ever produced - and the only one for private industry," Mr Pomper told this website.

There are a number of similar "subcritical assemblies" found around the world, particularly in Russia, but these are government run research facilities.