Industry and medicine
As a neutron source the FRM II is used for the solution of fundamental questions and notably for applied science. In addition, about 30% of the usable neutron flux is reserved for joint projects with industry. The facilities offers range from material analyses using neutron scattering (non-destructive testing, analysis using neutrons), which are possible at the 30 different beam tube instruments, to generation of stable and radio-active isotopes but also include radiation treatment of tumours. As a result, the FRM II's neutrons are used by the automotive, semiconductor and aerospace industries as well as mechanical engineering, chemistry, medical technology, environment and energy studies, geology, archeology and art history.
The FRM II provides industrial users with a number of advantages: The high neutron flux and modern instruments of the FRM II, its location close to the technical faculties of the Technische Universität München, good infrastructure on the site itself as well as proximity to the airport and a direct connection to the industrial sector in the north of Munich. Most important for the industrial users, is, however, the technical assistance from the academic and non-academic staff at the FRM II or MLZ. In addition, in 2005, with the support of the High-Tech Offensive Bayern, the Industrial User Center (IAZ) was built on the site of the FRM II and is used by, among others, the Isotopes Technologies Garching GmbH for the production of radiopharmaceuticals.
The FRM II offers industry and medicine the following:
Every two years, the FRM II and the Association of the German Engineers (VDI) organize the VDI-TUM-Expertenforum for scientists and industry.
The next VDI-TUM-Expertenforum will have the topic "Automatisierung und Maschinelles Lernen in der zerstörungsfreien Materialprüfung" and takes place on 08 September 2022.
Here are the links to the Expertenforen with the presentations as pdf files, which have already taken place:
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2004_Industrielle Nutzung FRM II
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2006_Bauteilentwicklung
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2008_Schadensanalyse
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2010_ Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2012_Bauteile verstehen
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2014_Mobilität und Energie
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2016_Hochleistungswerkstoffe
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2018_Additive Fertigung
VDI-TUM-Expertenforum 2022_Automatisierung und Maschinelles Lernen
Analysis with neutrons:
- simultaneous multi-element analysis via neutron activation analysis (NAA and PGAA),
- activation of tracers for production monitoring,
- improving manufacturing processes,
- measurement of wear.
- radioisotopes for medicine and technology,
- homogeneous doping of silicon for the semiconductor industry,
- direct tumour exposure with fission neutrons.
- alloys (precipitations, phase transformations): behavior at high temperatures (up to 2000 ° C) and / or under tensile,
- batteries (chemical structures, phase transformations.): In operando characterisation of the molecular process during loading / unloading,
- Workpieces (crankshaft, compressor, ...): residual stresses in the interior, texture determination,
- optimized magnetic properties (storage materials),
- development of new material resources (e.g. ceramics),
- development of new production methods,
- non-destructive visualization of loading with hydrogen in the development of hydrogen storage and fuel cells,
- radiation resistance.
At the FRM II the radioactive cobalt-60 is produced via neutron capture by the stable isotope cobalt-59. The irradiated Co discs or wires are used primarily for the production of preparations which are used in density or level measurements and for calibration, as well as for sterilization.
Neutron capture converts Si in the stable isotope phosphorus-31. The so-doped semiconductors are needed for high power applications.
The radioisotopes Lutetium-177, Ho-166 and Terbium-161, also produced in the reactor pool at the FRM II, serve first and foremost in tumour therapy, but occasionally in medical imaging, too. Technetium-99m is the most important and most commonly used isotope in nuclear medicine. It has a very wide range of applications in the field of diagnostic medicine and usually arises as a fission bi-product of the irradiation of uranium. From 2018/2019 on, the mother isotope Molybdenum-99 is to be produced in large quantities at the FRM II (see Mo-99). At the beam tube 10 tumour patients are directly treated with fission neutrons (tumour therapy).