Materion Corporation (NYSE: MTRN), a world leader in high-performing advanced materials, has jointly commissioned a Molten Salt Purification Plant (MSPP) with Kairos Power at Materion’s location in Elmore, Ohio for the commercial production of Flibe, a molten salt coolant used in nuclear energy production.
The facility is now entering the start-up phase for this unique material that will help enable the world’s transition to clean energy. The two companies formed the strategic collaboration in 2020 to develop a reliable and cost-effective supply of salt coolant for high-temperature molten salt reactors – a clean, affordable and safe nuclear energy solution that has the potential to transform the global energy landscape. The technology provides a zero-carbon source of electricity with cost targets that are competitive with natural gas combined cycle plants.
“We’re very pleased to work with Kairos Power on this exciting, next-generation nuclear power technology and to support them in their mission to provide clean, safe and sustainable energy for the future,” said Clive Grannum, President of Performance Materials at Materion. “Materion is the only domestic supplier of the beryllium fluoride component for Flibe, a key component of this energy solution. Our team will continue to collaborate with Kairos Power to develop this and other cutting-edge technologies.”
Beryllium provides a unique combination of properties that is enabling for an advanced nuclear reactor operation. For molten salt nuclear reactors, Flibe, a mixture of beryllium fluoride and lithium fluoride, is an ideal heat transfer fluid. It provides very high thermal capacity, chemical stability, and desirable neutron moderating characteristics. These characteristics make Flibe an outstanding choice as a coolant for the Kairos Power’s Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR).
As an industry leader in the production and manufacturing of high-performance advanced materials, Materion supplies beryllium fluoride for the MSPP and contributes requisite expertise, staffing and operating the plant. The decision to locate MSPP at Materion’s Elmore facility reinforces a long-term, strategic commitment by both companies to demonstrate leadership in the role molten salt plays in clean energy production.
About Materion
Materion Corporation is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Materion, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, supplies highly engineered advanced enabling materials to global markets. Products include precious and non-precious specialty metals, inorganic chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered beryllium alloys, beryllium and beryllium composites, and engineered clad and plated metal systems.
About Kairos Power
Kairos Power is a mission-driven nuclear technology, engineering and manufacturing company singularly focused on commercializing the fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) – a clean source of carbon-free energy that can be deployed with robust safety at an affordable cost. Founded in 2016, the company is unique in applying a rapid iterative development approach supported by a vertical integration strategy to bring advanced reactor technology to market. Following extensive pre-application engagement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Kairos Power’s Construction Permit Application for the Hermes low-power demonstration reactor is currently under formal review. Kairos Power’s mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy with the ultimate goal of dramatically improving people’s quality of life while protecting the environment. Learn more at kairospower.com.
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