CAMECA, a world leader in scientific instrumentation and metrology solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of the SKAPHIA Shielded Electron Probe Initiative, which brings together key players in the nuclear industry and nuclear research community to develop the next generation of shielded Electron Probe Microanalyzers (EPMA).

The initiative capitalizes on CAMECA’s more than years 50 years of experience in developing and servicing shielded microanalytical instruments for nuclear fuel characterization, irradiated materials behavior investigation, and radioactive waste management. CAMECA has had a great deal of success supporting the nuclear industry and scientific community, starting in 1978 with the installation of the first shielded electron probe microanalyzer.

CAMECA has developed customized microprobes for major post-irradiation examination facilities, including the Idaho National Lab (USA), Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, SCK-CEN nuclear research centre (Belgium), Institute for Transuraniam Elements (Germany), Electricite de France (EdF), and several CEA technology research centers in France.

Over the years, CAMECA has perfected its EPMA instrumentation to deliver ever higher spatial resolution and better detection limits, while developing shielding methods and systems that allow nuclear scientists to efficiently analyze radioactive materials.

“After developing five generations of shielded electron microprobe analyzers, including several SX50-R that are still in operation, we are ready to develop the next generation,” states Dr. Michel Schuhmacher, Vice President of R&D and Product Marketing for CAMECA.

“SKAPHIA will provide benchmark analytical performance, while providing a safe environment for manipulating and analyzing nuclear samples. The next-generation EPMA will allow scientists to gain a deeper understanding of fuel performance; explore irradiated material behavior and radiation damage processes; develop innovative alloys and structural materials; optimize the nuclear fuel cycle; and achieve better nuclear waste management, thus contributing to a safer world.”