Ceramic: Ceramic fuel elements are of increasing importance in the generation of nuclear power. Approximately 90% of newly planned nuclear electric power installations will contain enriched uranium dioxide (UO»), a ceramic material, as the fuel element. Many of the structural elements of the reactors, from the construction materials to the control rods (which are usually boron compounds or rare-earth oxides), are also ceramic materials.
Ceramic materials are being used in personnel mor to defeat the penetration of bullets. Alumi-jm oxide compounds are the most widely used ir this purpose. Such ceramic materials are also ;ing used as armor in helicopters and other air-
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