Kodak Ran a Secret Nuclear Device in Its Basement for Decades
7 days ago
- #Cold War
- #Nuclear Technology
- #Kodak
- Kodak operated a californium neutron flux multiplier (CFX) from 1975 to 2006 in Rochester, NY.
- The CFX used californium-252 (CF-252) and highly enriched uranium (HEU) to generate neutrons for materials analysis.
- Neutron activation analysis allowed Kodak to test chemicals for impurities by measuring gamma rays from radioactive isotopes.
- Neutron radiography provided imaging advantages over X-rays for lighter elements like water or film.
- The CFX was subcritical, meaning it couldn’t sustain a chain reaction, ensuring safety.
- The device was decommissioned in 2007, with HEU plates securely transported under government oversight.
- News coverage in 2012 focused on HEU risks, but the CFX was a regulated, non-threatening tool.
- The CFX represents Cold War-era nuclear optimism and corporate innovation under strict oversight.