French industry

Nuclear

Demanding the highest standards of safety and precision, the nuclear sector operates in an environment where the slightest failure is unacceptable and every component must withstand exceptional pressure and temperature conditions.

First energy in France, we have been working with EDF and its partners for many years to illuminate your projects. In moulding, extrusion or manufactured technical products, we are a reference in the sector.

ISO 9001

Quality Management System

Sector standard

PMUC

Industry challenges

Technical challenges in the sector

It is used in various sectors due to its exceptional technical properties.

Compliance with nuclear qualification requirements

In the nuclear industry, any material used on classified equipment must be qualified according to strict procedures defined by the operator and safety authorities. This qualification involves accelerated aging tests, resistance to gamma radiation, and accident conditions (LOCA). A silicone parts supplier must be able to provide a complete qualification file that is reproducible from batch to batch.

Resistance to ionizing radiation

Exposure to gamma and neutron radiation causes accelerated degradation of elastomers: hardening, loss of elasticity, and embrittlement. Not all silicones behave the same way when faced with cumulative doses. Formulations used in nuclear zones must be selected and tested to maintain their mechanical and sealing properties up to the irradiation doses defined in the equipment's qualification file.

Full traceability and manufacturing batch documentation

Documentary requirements in the nuclear environment are unparalleled in standard industry. Every delivered part must be accompanied by a traceable manufacturing file: compound reference, material batch number, curing parameters, dimensional checks, and certificates of analysis. Any documentary non-compliance can block the commissioning of equipment, regardless of the intrinsic quality of the part.

Performance in accident conditions (LOCA)

For safety-critical circuits, silicone seals and membranes must maintain their sealing function in the event of a Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA): simultaneous exposure to high-temperature steam, high pressure, and radiation flux. The parts in question are qualified according to accident scenarios defined in the operator's documentation, generally in accordance with EDF or IRSN standards.

Area of application

Advantages of silicone

It is used in various sectors due to its exceptional technical properties.

Isothermal

40°C to 200°C and can reach -110°C and +315°C with additives.

Adjustable hardness

Shores from 1 Shores A to 90 Shores A and mosses

Respecting current standards

our blends are REACH and ROHS

Resistant to the elements

UV/saline environments

Colourable to order

RAL Pantone & countertyping

Compatible with the electrical environment

insulator or conductor

Durable

long product life

Adaptable

industrial or medical sector

See the case study

Year

Nuclear

Sector

Parts

Expertise

Practical applications

Flange gaskets for auxiliary circuits
Protective bellows for safety valves
Membranes for differential pressure sensors
Wall penetration sleeves
Door seals for electrical rooms in controlled zones
Plugs and stoppers for handling irradiated components

Industry standards & certifications

ISO 9001 + nuclear requirements

ISO 9001 certification is the baseline. Nuclear prime contractors generally require additional measures: supplier audits, dedicated quality plans, and document reviews prior to delivery.

Services

Our expertise at the service of your project

From the study phase, our teams can support you in order to find the solution perfectly adapted to your needs/sector of activity. We then define the best manufacturing process.

Design office

Our teams support you from the design of your plans, technical choices and tool manufacturing.

Molding

We design a unique custom mold according to the specifications drawn up with the customer.

Extrusion

This precise manufacturing process consists in pushing silicone through a die with a simple or complex shape.

Confection

Assembly, vulcanization, welding for tailor-made products.

Our differentiation

Our expertise in the medical sector

We have an ISO 8 class clean room with an area of 550 m², of which 250 m² are devoted to extrusion and 300 m² to moulding, which constitutes 20% of our business.

FAQ

We answer your most frequently asked questions

Can your silicone parts be qualified for use in classified nuclear zones?

Yes, provided that the qualification is conducted according to the standards applicable to the equipment in question (RCC-M, IEEE 323, operator specifications). You provide the necessary technical documentation, and we can support you through the qualification process with the selected body. Each qualification is specific to an application and a classification level.

Do you provide a material certificate of conformity with batch traceability?

Yes. Every delivery is accompanied by a material certificate of conformity stating the compound reference and the batch number.

What radiation dose can your silicones withstand?

Radiation resistance depends on the formulation and exposure conditions. Some silicones can withstand up to approximately 10⁶ Gy. The permissible dose must be defined in the qualification file, taking aging into account.

Are you able to deliver small batches with a complete manufacturing file?

Yes. The nuclear sector often involves low volumes with high documentation requirements. We are set up to produce small batches—including single parts—while compiling a complete manufacturing file that complies with the client's requirements.