Chongsu Nuclear-Grade Graphite Production Plant? North Korea may be proliferating controlled...

ISIS ^ | April 20, 2018 | David Albright

[TigerLikesRooster]

Chongsu Nuclear-Grade Graphite Production Plant? North Korea may be proliferating controlled nuclear goods

by David Albright

April 20, 2018

During the last few years, North Korea has raised nuclear proliferation concerns by distributing abroad a commercial, English-language color handout that offered to sell nuclear-grade graphite, an internationally controlled nuclear dual-use material. This handout was distributed on a limited basis prior to January 2018 and could not be found on the internet, but Institute staff learned of the handout from someone who had access to one of them. Nuclear-grade, high-purity graphite, is controlled because it can be used in nuclear reactors. It is used as a neutron moderator in certain types of reactors, such as in the 5 megawatt-electric (MWe) at Yongbyon, the gas-graphite reactor that was being built in Syria and was destroyed by Israel in 2007, and possibly in the Yongbyon experimental light water reactor nearing operation. Other more advanced reactors also use nuclear-grade graphite.

Intensifying concerns that North Korea is seeking nuclear customers for the graphite is the fact that North Korea’s Ministry of Atomic Energy is building a new plant to make the graphite, according to a knowledgeable government official. Moreover, the handout mentions that the graphite can be used to make artificial isotopes or as a moderator. Both cases are code for use in nuclear reactors, implying that North Korea is actively seeking buyers who would use the graphite for nuclear purposes.

It is unclear today who would buy nuclear-grade graphite from North Korea, given the extent of United Nations and unilateral sanctions against the country. When North Korea’s atomic establishment started the Chongsu construction project several years ago, it may have viewed prospects for finding a customer more likely.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[colderwater]

I call BS on the claim nuclear grade graphite is a “controlled material”. Nuclear grade graphite is nothing more than high purity material, with low quantities of elements that can be transmuted by nuclear reactions. That same purity makes it suitable for use in the semiconductor materials industry: graphite susceptors used to hold crucibles that hold liquid silicon, graphite parts used in reactors that decompose gases to make silicon etc, etc.

C.W.

[TigerLikesRooster]

​https://dsgl.defence.gov.au/dsglcontent/Pages/0C004.aspx

According to DoD, the following type of Graphite is on DSGL(Defence and Strategic Goods List.)

0C004 Graphite having a purity level of less than 5 ppm (parts per million) ‘boron equivalent’ and with a density greater than 1.50 g/cm3 for use in a “nuclear reactor” specified by 0A001.a., in quantities exceeding 1 kg.

N.B.: SEE ALSO 1C107

Note 1: For the purpose of export control, the Government will determine whether or not the exports of graphite meeting the above specifications are for “nuclear reactor” use.

Note 2: In 0C004, ‘boron equivalent’ (BE) may be determined experimentally or is calculated as the sum of BEz for impurities (excluding BEcarbon since carbon is not considered an impurity) including boron, where:

BEZ (ppm) = CF x concentration of element Z in ppm;

where CF is the conversion factor:



and sB and sZ are the thermal neutron capture cross sections (in barns) for naturally occurring boron and element Z respectively; and AB and AZ ​are the atomic masses of naturally occurring boron and element Z respectively.

[Rapscallion]

Ninety to 110 lbs. of highly enriched uranium (enriched to 90 percent U-235) is needed to make a simple gun-type nuclear weapon.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Sorry, that is not U.S. DoD, but Australian Dept. of Defense.

[colderwater]

It's ok. I've had no trouble getting H.P. graphite, the trouble is getting it even more pure. And the more pure, the better. Maybe there is not much semiconductor industry in Australia. 99.9999999% pure Si (ignoring the trace oxygen, carbon and dopants; suppliers always exaggerate) requires extreme measures.

C.W.