Lightbridge Successfully Fabricates Nuclear Material Samples with Enriched Uranium-Zirconium Alloy for Testing in the Advanced Test Reactor
Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR) has achieved a significant milestone in developing its next-generation Lightbridge Fuel鈩� by successfully fabricating enriched uranium-zirconium alloy coupon samples. The samples, produced using Lightbridge's proprietary fabrication method, will undergo irradiation testing at Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) Advanced Test Reactor (ATR).
The achievement builds upon previous demonstrations at INL using depleted uranium samples. The upcoming irradiation testing program and post-irradiation examination will generate crucial performance data to support regulatory licensing and commercialization efforts for Lightbridge Fuel鈩�, which aims to enhance nuclear reactor performance and safety worldwide.
Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR) ha raggiunto un importante traguardo nello sviluppo del suo combustibile di nuova generazione Lightbridge Fuel鈩� realizzando con successo campioni di leghe di uranio arricchito e zirconio. I campioni, prodotti con il metodo di fabbricazione proprietario di Lightbridge, saranno sottoposti a test di irraggiamento presso il Reattore Avanzato di Prova (ATR) del Laboratorio Nazionale di Idaho (INL).
Questo risultato si basa sulle precedenti dimostrazioni condotte presso l'INL con campioni di uranio impoverito. Il programma di test di irraggiamento e l'esame post-irraggiamento forniranno dati fondamentali sulle prestazioni, a supporto delle procedure di autorizzazione regolatoria e degli sforzi di commercializzazione per Lightbridge Fuel鈩�, che mira a migliorare le prestazioni e la sicurezza dei reattori nucleari a livello globale.
Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR) ha alcanzado un hito importante en el desarrollo de su combustible de pr贸xima generaci贸n Lightbridge Fuel鈩� al fabricar con 茅xito muestras de aleaci贸n de uranio enriquecido y circonio. Las muestras, producidas mediante el m茅todo de fabricaci贸n patentado de Lightbridge, ser谩n sometidas a pruebas de irradiaci贸n en el Reactor Avanzado de Pruebas (ATR) del Laboratorio Nacional de Idaho (INL).
Este logro se basa en demostraciones previas en el INL con muestras de uranio empobrecido. El programa de pruebas de irradiaci贸n y el examen posterior a la irradiaci贸n generar谩n datos cruciales de desempe帽o para respaldar los esfuerzos regulatorios de licencia y comercializaci贸n de Lightbridge Fuel鈩�, que busca mejorar el rendimiento y la seguridad de los reactores nucleares a nivel mundial.
Lightbridge Corporation (雮橃姢雼�: LTBR)電� 彀劯雽� Lightbridge Fuel鈩� 臧滊皽鞐愳劀 欷戩殧頃� 鞚挫爼響滊ゼ 雼劚頃橃棳 雴嶌稌 鞖半澕電�-歆�毳挫綌電� 頃╆笀 炜犿彴 靸橅攲鞚� 靹标车鞝侅溂搿� 鞝滌瀾頄堨姷雼堧嫟. 鞚� 靸橅攲霌れ潃 Lightbridge鞚� 霃呾瀽鞝侅澑 鞝滌瀾 氚╈嫕鞚� 靷毄頃橃棳 靸濎偘霅橃棃鞙茧┌, 鞎勳澊雼ろ樃 甑 鞐瓣惮靻�(INL)鞚� 觳嫧 鞁滍棙 鞗愳瀽搿�(ATR)鞐愳劀 臁办偓 鞁滍棙鞚� 氚涥矊 霅╇媹雼�.
鞚措矆 靹标臣電� INL鞐愳劀 頋劃 鞖半澕電� 靸橅攲鞚� 靷毄頃� 鞚挫爠 鞁滌棸鞚� 旮半皹鞙茧 頃╇媹雼�. 雼り皜鞓る姅 臁办偓 鞁滍棙 頂勲攴鸽灗瓿� 臁办偓 頉� 瓴�靷姅 Lightbridge Fuel鈩㈧潣 攴滌牅 項堦皜 氚� 靸侅毄頇� 雲鸽牓鞚� 歆�鞗愴晿旮� 鞙勴暅 欷戩殧頃� 靹彪姤 雿办澊韯半ゼ 靸濎劚頃� 瓴冹瀰雼堧嫟. 鞚� 鞐半電� 鞝� 靹戈硠 鞗愳瀽搿滌潣 靹彪姤瓿� 鞎堨爠靹膘潉 頄レ儊鞁滍偆電� 瓴冹潉 氇╉憸搿� 頃╇媹雼�.
Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq : LTBR) a franchi une 茅tape importante dans le d茅veloppement de son combustible de nouvelle g茅n茅ration Lightbridge Fuel鈩� en fabriquant avec succ猫s des 茅chantillons d'alliage uranium-zirconium enrichi. Ces 茅chantillons, produits gr芒ce 脿 la m茅thode de fabrication propri茅taire de Lightbridge, seront soumis 脿 des tests d'irradiation au r茅acteur avanc茅 de test (ATR) du laboratoire national d'Idaho (INL).
Cette r茅ussite s'appuie sur des d茅monstrations ant茅rieures r茅alis茅es 脿 l'INL avec des 茅chantillons d'uranium appauvri. Le programme de tests d'irradiation 脿 venir et l'examen post-irradiation fourniront des donn茅es essentielles sur la performance, soutenant les efforts de licence r茅glementaire et de commercialisation de Lightbridge Fuel鈩�, qui vise 脿 am茅liorer les performances et la s茅curit茅 des r茅acteurs nucl茅aires dans le monde entier.
Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR) hat einen bedeutenden Meilenstein bei der Entwicklung seines n盲chsten Lightbridge Fuel鈩�-Brennstoffs erreicht, indem erfolgreich Proben aus angereichertem Uran-Zirkonium-Legierungscoupons hergestellt wurden. Die Proben, die mit Lightbridges propriet盲rer Fertigungsmethode produziert wurden, werden im Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) des Idaho National Laboratory (INL) einer Bestrahlungspr眉fung unterzogen.
Dieser Erfolg baut auf fr眉heren Demonstrationen am INL mit abgereichertem Uran auf. Das bevorstehende Bestrahlungspr眉fungsprogramm und die anschlie脽ende Untersuchung nach der Bestrahlung werden wichtige Leistungsdaten liefern, um regulatorische Zulassungen und Kommerzialisierungsbem眉hungen f眉r Lightbridge Fuel鈩� zu unterst眉tzen, das darauf abzielt, die Leistung und Sicherheit von Kernreaktoren weltweit zu verbessern.
- Successfully fabricated enriched uranium-zirconium alloy samples matching intended commercial fuel composition
- Leveraging proven proprietary fabrication method previously demonstrated at INL
- Established collaboration with INL through CRADA for testing and development
- Progress toward regulatory licensing and commercialization of advanced nuclear fuel technology
- Still requires completion of irradiation testing and post-irradiation examination
- Regulatory approval process pending and timeline uncertain
Insights
Lightbridge's successful fabrication of enriched uranium-zirconium samples marks crucial progress toward commercial nuclear fuel deployment and regulatory approval.
Lightbridge has reached a significant technical milestone in its nuclear fuel development program by successfully fabricating enriched uranium-zirconium alloy coupon samples using its proprietary extrusion process. This achievement follows earlier work with depleted uranium and represents a critical transition to enriched materials that more closely match the composition planned for commercial deployment.
The fabricated samples will undergo irradiation testing at Idaho National Laboratory's Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) as part of an existing Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). This testing is essential for collecting performance data under actual nuclear reactor conditions - a necessary step for any new nuclear fuel technology.
The technical significance lies in Lightbridge's ability to successfully apply its proprietary fabrication method to enriched uranium-zirconium alloys, validating their manufacturing approach. The company's fuel design aims to enhance both performance and safety of existing nuclear reactors, potentially offering operational improvements to the current nuclear fleet.
The upcoming irradiation testing represents the next critical phase in the development pipeline. The resulting data will be instrumental for regulatory licensing efforts - typically a lengthy and stringent process for nuclear technologies. This testing moves Lightbridge closer to demonstrating their fuel's performance characteristics under the extreme conditions of a nuclear reactor environment.
This milestone indicates Lightbridge is progressing through the established nuclear fuel qualification pathway, moving from fabrication proof-of-concept to performance testing - essential steps before eventual regulatory approval and commercial deployment can occur.
RESTON, Va., July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR), a leader in advanced nuclear fuel technology, today announced the successful fabrication of coupon samples using enriched uranium-zirconium alloy, a critical step in the development of its next-generation Lightbridge Fuel鈩� product. The samples are representative of the fuel material alloy composition Lightbridge plans to use in the commercial fuel product designed to improve the performance and safety of nuclear reactors worldwide.
Key highlights of this achievement include:
- Successful Extrusion of Enriched Uranium-Zirconium Alloy Samples: Lightbridge has successfully extruded enriched uranium-zirconium alloy samples that match the fuel material alloy composition intended for its future commercial Lightbridge Fuel鈩� product.
- Utilization of Proven Fabrication Process: The extrusion process was performed using Lightbridge鈥檚 proprietary fabrication method, previously demonstrated at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), to extrude and co-extrude depleted uranium samples with zirconium-alloy cladding. This proven technology is now applied to the enriched alloy for further development.
- Collaboration with INL for Irradiation Testing: The enriched coupon samples will be placed into capsules and undergo irradiation testing at INL's Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). This work is conducted as part of an existing Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Lightbridge and the Idaho National Laboratory.
- Irradiation Testing to Support Regulatory Efforts: The planned irradiation testing program, along with post-irradiation examination activities (the scope of which will be detailed in a future Project Task Statement), is aimed at generating critical irradiation performance data for Lightbridge鈥檚 advanced fuel. This data will play a key role in supporting the company鈥檚 regulatory licensing and commercialization efforts for deployment of Lightbridge Fuel鈩�.
Image 1: Enriched Uranium-Zirconium Rod Post-Extrusion
Image 2: Close-up View of the Enriched Uranium-Zirconium Rod Post-Extrusion, still covered in the extrusion lubricant
Image 3: Taking Measurements of the Enriched Uranium-Zirconium Rod Post-Extrusion
Image 4: View of the Working Space from Above
Image 5: Lightbridge and INL team performing a visual inspection of a finished enriched uranium-zirconium coupon sample inside a glovebox
Image 6: A close-up view of a finished enriched uranium-zirconium coupon sample
Image 7: Taking dimensional measurements of a finished enriched uranium-zirconium coupon sample
Image 8: Finished enriched uranium-zirconium coupon samples after characterization and visual inspection results confirmed their suitability for irradiation testing in the Advanced Test Reactor
Image 9: INL and Lightbridge team inspecting the finished enriched uranium-zirconium coupon samples
Image 10: Taking dimensional measurements of a finished enriched uranium-zirconium coupon sample
鈥淚daho National Laboratory is proud to collaborate with Lightbridge on this critical step toward advancing nuclear fuel technology,鈥� said Ronald Crone, Associate Laboratory Director at Idaho National Laboratory. 鈥淭he successful fabrication and upcoming irradiation testing of these enriched uranium-zirconium alloy samples will provide valuable data to support the development of Lightbridge鈥檚 advanced nuclear fuel technology.鈥�
鈥淲e are thrilled to reach this milestone in the development of our advanced fuel technology,鈥� said Dr. Scott Holcombe, Vice President of Engineering, at Lightbridge. 鈥淭he successful fabrication of these enriched uranium-zirconium alloy coupon samples, to be followed by irradiation testing at INL鈥檚 Advanced Test Reactor, is a critical step toward our goal of delivering a safer, more efficient fuel solution for the nuclear energy industry. This collaborative effort with INL will provide essential data to support our regulatory approval process.鈥�
About Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation鈥檚 center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE鈥檚 strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
About鈥疞ightbridge Corporation
Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ: LTBR) is focused on developing advanced nuclear fuel technology essential for delivering abundant, zero-emission, clean energy and providing energy security to the world. The Company is developing Lightbridge Fuel鈩�, a proprietary next-generation nuclear fuel technology for existing light water reactors and pressurized heavy water reactors, significantly enhancing reactor safety, economics, and proliferation resistance. The Company is also developing Lightbridge Fuel for new small modular reactors (SMRs) to bring the same benefits plus load-following with renewables on a zero-carbon electric grid.
Lightbridge has entered into two long-term framework agreements with Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, the United States Department of Energy鈥檚 operating contractor for Idaho National Laboratory, the United States' lead nuclear energy research and development laboratory. DOE鈥檚 Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear program has twice awarded Lightbridge to support the development of Lightbridge Fuel over the past several years. Lightbridge is participating in two university-led studies through the DOE Nuclear Energy University Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University. An extensive worldwide patent portfolio backs Lightbridge鈥檚 innovative fuel technology. Lightbridge is included in the Russell 2000庐 Index and the Russell 3000庐 Index. For more information, please visit .
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Forward Looking Statements
With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations on the date of this news release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ significantly from such estimates. The risks include, but are not limited to: Lightbridge鈥檚 ability to commercialize its nuclear fuel technology; the degree of market adoption of Lightbridge鈥檚 product and service offerings; Lightbridge鈥檚 ability to fund general corporate overhead and outside research and development costs; market competition; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; dependence on strategic partners; demand for fuel for nuclear reactors; Lightbridge鈥檚 ability to manage its business effectively in a rapidly evolving market; the availability of nuclear test reactors and the risks associated with unexpected changes in Lightbridge鈥檚 fuel development timeline; the increased costs associated with metallization of Lightbridge鈥檚 nuclear fuel; public perception of nuclear energy generally; changes in the political environment; risks associated with war in Europe; changes in the laws, rules and regulations governing Lightbridge鈥檚 business; development and utilization of, and challenges to, Lightbridge鈥檚 intellectual property; risks associated with potential shareholder activism; potential and contingent liabilities; as well as other factors described in Lightbridge's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 鈥淪EC鈥�). Lightbridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Lightbridge鈥檚 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and in its other filings with the SEC, including in the sections thereof captioned 鈥淩isk Factors鈥� and 鈥淔orward-Looking Statements鈥�, all of which are available at and .
Investor Relations Contact:
Matthew Abenante, IRC
Director of Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (347) 947-2093
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FAQ
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