Skip to content

Blanket Rods & Isotope Breeding

Blanket rods are specialized components used in Breeder Reactors. Unlike fuel rods, which generate power, blanket rods are designed to be irradiated by the reactor's neutron flux to transform into valuable isotopes.

🧬 Breeding Cycle

1. Irradiation

When placed in a Breeder Reactor, blanket rods (made of fertile materials like Thorium-232 or Uranium-238) absorb neutrons. - Consumption: Blanket material is consumed slowly over time, similar to fuel rods. - Spectrum Sensitivity: The speed and success of breeding depend on the "Neutron Spectrum" (Thermal, Mixed, or Fast) provided by your fuel rods.

2. Isotope Formation

As the cycle progresses, the blanket material "Transmutes" into new elements. - Weighted Rolls: Every cycle completion has a chance to produce different isotopes based on the material's Breeding Table. - Instability: Some rare isotopes are "Instable" and will cause temporary heat spikes in the reactor during formation.

📦 Key Blanket Materials

  • Thorium Blanket: Used to breed Uranium-233. A stable, long-duration cycle.
  • Depleted Uranium Blanket: Used to breed Plutonium-239. High energy potential but requires a "Fast" neutron spectrum for efficiency.
  • Exotic Blankets: High-tier blankets used to harvest transuranic elements and rare isotopes like Californium or Americium.

💡 Breeding Tips

  • Maximize Flux: Surround your blanket rods with high-tier fuel rods to increase the "Neutron Density" and speed up the breeding cycle.
  • Automation: Breeding produces isotopes as outputs. Ensure your breeder multiblock has an Output Bus or is Soul-Linked to automatically extract these valuable products.
  • Isotope Selection: Use specific moderators (like Beryllium) to "Shift" the neutron spectrum and favor the production of specific rare isotopes over common ones.