Phenyl silicone oil: the 'radiation shield' for nuclear power safety
On the tenth anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear accident, phenyl silicone oil became the "invisible shield" of key components in nuclear power plants with a radiation resistance dose of 106 Gy. The traditional silicone oil undergoes gel under 104 Gy radiation, while the high phenyl type (45% phenyl content) disperses the radiation energy through the conjugation effect of phenyl, which increases the energy required for gel by 300%.


According to actual measurement data from China General Nuclear Power Group, the insulation layer of cables impregnated with phenyl silicone oil has an extended lifespan from 3 years to 15 years in a gamma ray environment; The sealing ring of the control rod drive mechanism in the nuclear reactor has been modified with phenyl silicone oil, which improves its erosion resistance by 5 times, ensuring that the sealing function can still be maintained under accident conditions. More noteworthy is its self-healing properties: the free radicals generated by radiation can trigger the hydrosilylation reaction of phenyl silicone oil, automatically repairing micro damage to the material. From nuclear power plants to particle accelerators, phenyl silicone oil is building a new line of defense against radiation.