OREANDA-NEWS. March 23, 2009. The 15th International Exhibition-Congress “High Technologies. Innovations. Investments” (Hi-Tech’ 2009) was held in St.PetersburgMar 10–13 2009 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Russia’s first exhibition of innovations. Over 100 Russian and foreign companies demonstrated their latest technologies, materials and equipment during the exhibition.

The project of Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR) “Dysprosium Hafnate – Radiation-Resistant and Highly Efficient Absorbing Material” has been recognized the best in the nomination “Best Innovative Project in the Field of New Materials and Chemical Projects” and has been granted the gold medal.

This project is expected to significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of systems of control of innovative nuclear reactors of the fourth generation.

The manager of the project, doctor of engineering science, professor Vladimir Risovany says that dysprosium hafnate pellets in reactor cores of thermal reactors are more efficient than any existing Russian and foreign absorbents based on hafnium metal and alloys of silver with indium and cadmium.

In 2011 NIIAR is planning to start serial production of dysprosium hafnate pellets but already today this project has attracted big nuclear companies from France and South Korea.