Al
Aluminum
Z = 13 · Post-Transition Metal · 27.0 u
Nuclear Engineering Significance
Standard structural and cladding material in research and test reactors due to low thermal absorption (σ_a = 0.231 b) and ease of fabrication. Not used in power reactors because of poor high-temperature mechanical properties. Common in MTR-type plate fuel elements.
Basic properties
- Atomic number (Z)
- 13
- Standard atomic mass
- 27.0 u
- Category
- Post-Transition Metal
Isotopes & cross-section data
| Isotope | Mass (A) | Half-life | ZAID | Libraries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-27 | 27 | Stable | .80c.71c.70c |