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Nuclear

Fine Tubes has manufactured safety critical nuclear tubing since the 1970s, beginning with fuel cans for the UK’s first gas cooled reactors. Today, we support nuclear customers from early design through new builds, maintenance, life extension programs, and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) projects worldwide.

Where are high- precision tubes used in nuclear reactor applications?

Working in partnership with our US-based sister business, Superior Tube, our high-quality tubes are trusted by the world’s major nuclear reactor suppliers to operate in critical applications including:

Primary and field instrumentation
Condenser tubes
Cooling tubes
Control rod drive mechanism
Fuel cans
Cladding tubes
Flux thimble guide tubes
Grid sleeves
Seamless nickel coils for flux detectors
Other fuel assembly components

High performance tubes for nuclear fuel reactor cans

Corrosion, Heat and Pressure Resistant Alloys

Strict compliance, integrity and precision are critical when dealing with hazardous materials. Our experts work with you to produce the exacting material properties required.

Titanium, nickel alloys, stainless steels such as 20/25Nb, duplex stainless steels, and zirconium (supplied by Superior Tube)

RCC-M, ASME III Compliant

We not only have the plant capability to make quality assured tubing compliant with RCC-M and ASME III QSC (under customer approval) for nuclear programs, but we also have a track record in helping the industry advance by developing new solutions.

Fine Tubes also has First Point Approval and can supply to P.E.D. Reference lists and individual client approvals are available on request.

Nuclear fuel assembly tubes from Fine Tubes UK

Quality Assurance

Stringent process and quality control at Fine Tubes is critical for us to consistently achieve the highest standards across our nuclear products. View our Quality Certifications and Approvals.

Tubing is used in systems that handle coolants, steam, and radioactive materials, where even a minor defect can lead to leakage or system failure. Because nuclear plants operate under strict safety requirements, tubing must meet zero-defect standards.

Nuclear tubing must simultaneously withstand:

Extreme heat and pressure
Radiation exposure
Corrosive chemical environments

These combined conditions require specialized alloys and strict manufacturing control beyond typical industrial standards.

Radiation can alter material structure, leading to:

Embrittlement
Reduced mechanical strength
Increased susceptibility to corrosion

This makes material selection and processing critical for maintaining long-term integrity.

Nuclear systems use high-purity water and chemical coolants that can still cause:

Stress corrosion cracking
Pitting and localized damage

High corrosion resistance is essential to prevent degradation that could compromise safety and efficiency.

Precision tubing enables efficient:

Heat transfer in steam generators
Cooling in reactor systems
Fluid flow control

This helps maintain stable reactor operation and improves overall energy output efficiency.

Contaminants or impurities in tubing materials can affect performance and compatibility with reactor environments. High levels of cleanliness ensure:

Reduced risk of chemical reactions
Stable long-term performance
Compliance with strict nuclear standards

Engineers must balance:

Corrosion resistance vs mechanical strength
Radiation tolerance vs manufacturability
Performance vs cost

These trade-offs are critical when designing for long reactor lifecycles.

Nuclear tubes are engineered for durability under continuous thermal and mechanical stress, ensuring decades of reliable performance with minimal degradation in reactor environments.

Critical systems include: